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Cache-Control Header Builder

Network

Build and explain an HTTP Cache-Control response header from directives like max-age, s-maxage, no-store, and immutable

Cache-Control is one of the most commonly misconfigured HTTP headers, and it is easy to combine directives that quietly cancel each other out. This tool assembles the header value from the directives you pick (public/private, no-cache, no-store, max-age, s-maxage, must-revalidate, immutable, stale-while-revalidate and more), emits them in a sensible order, and explains in plain English what each one actually does. It also warns about combinations that have no effect, such as pairing no-store with a max-age. It builds the header string only: you still add it to your server, CDN, or framework response config, and it never fetches or validates against a live origin.

cache-controlhttpheaderscachingcdn

How to use Cache-Control Header Builder

  • 1.Pick a cacheability (public or private) and set a max-age in seconds, or start from a preset like an immutable static asset.
  • 2.Toggle extra directives such as no-store, must-revalidate, immutable, or stale-while-revalidate as your caching needs require.
  • 3.Copy the generated Cache-Control header, read the per-directive explanation, and check the warnings before deploying it.

Frequently asked questions

Does this apply the header to my server for me?
No. It builds the header value only; you still need to add it to your server, CDN, or framework response configuration.
What is the difference between max-age and s-maxage?
max-age is the freshness lifetime for any cache, while s-maxage overrides it for shared caches only (CDNs and proxies), leaving the browser's own max-age unchanged.
Why does it warn when I combine no-store with other directives?
no-store tells every cache not to store the response at all, so any max-age, public, or revalidation directive alongside it has no practical effect.
Does it validate my header against a real origin?
No. It is pure string assembly that runs entirely in your browser, with no network calls, so it cannot tell you how a specific CDN will interpret the header.

Use via API, SDK, or MCP

cURL# Free: 1,000 req/day · Pro: 10,000 req/day
curl -X POST https://api.utilix.tech/v1/tools/cache-control-builder \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer utx_live_..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"visibility":"public","maxAge":3600}'

Get an API key from your dashboard · Full API docs →

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