Memcache vs Memcached: Which PHP Cache Library Should You Choose?

Memcache vs Memcached: Understanding the Differences

In PHP development, the choice between Memcache and Memcached can be perplexing, especially considering the similarities in their names. This article aims to clarify the differences between these two libraries and guide you in choosing the most appropriate option for your specific needs.

Origin and Development:

Memcache is an older PHP extension that has been widely used for cache management. It primarily provides basic memcached functionality and is less actively developed.

Memcached, on the other hand, is a newer and more advanced PHP client library for the memcached server. It was developed by Facebook and offers a more comprehensive set of features, including additional protocols and advanced caching capabilities.

Key Features and Advantages of Memcached:

• Cas tokens: Memcached introduces Cas (Compare-and-Swap) tokens, a key feature that aids in stale data prevention.
• Read through callbacks: simplifies code by allowing callbacks to execute if a cache miss occurs.
• getDelayed(): enhances performance by reducing wait time for server responses.
• Binary protocol: offers faster data transfer than the ASCII protocol used by Memcache.
• igbinary: allows for efficient serialization of complex data, improving performance.

Requirements and Compatibility:

Memcached requires the external libmemcached library, which may not be readily available on all systems. However, it supports a wider range of server versions and protocols.

Memcache, on the other hand, does not require additional libraries but may only support older server versions and protocols.

Conclusion:

Memcached offers more advanced features and improved performance compared to Memcache. If you require Cas tokens, read through callbacks, or other advanced caching capabilities, Memcached is the recommended choice. However, if compatibility with older systems or a lack of external libraries is a concern, Memcache may be a more suitable option.

Update:

Zend Framework 2 introduced an adapter for Memcached, enabling its integration into Zend applications. This further enhances Memcached's appeal for PHP developers working within the Zend Framework ecosystem.

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