Differences Between First-Level and Second-Level Cache in Hibernate

What is the difference between first level cache and second level cache in Hibernate?

In Hibernate, caching is an important feature that helps improve the performance of database operations by reducing the number of database queries. Hibernate provides two levels of caching: first-level cache and second-level cache. Here are the key differences between them:

First-Level Cache

1. Scope: The first-level cache is associated with the Session object. It is specific to a single session and is not shared across different sessions.

2. Lifetime: The first-level cache exists as long as the session is open. Once the session is closed, the cache is cleared.

3. Automatic Management: The first-level cache is managed automatically by Hibernate. When you load an entity, it is stored in the first-level cache, and subsequent requests for the same entity within the same session will retrieve it from the cache instead of hitting the database.

4. No Configuration Required: The first-level cache is enabled by default and does not require any additional configuration.

5. Use Case: It is useful for managing entities within a single transaction or session, ensuring that the same entity is not loaded multiple times from the database.

Second-Level Cache

1. Scope: The second-level cache is associated with the SessionFactory and is shared across multiple sessions. This means that entities cached in the second-level cache can be accessed by different sessions.

2. Lifetime: The second-level cache persists beyond the lifecycle of a single session. It can be configured to have a specific expiration time or can be cleared manually.

3. Manual Management: The second-level cache requires explicit configuration and management. You need to specify which entities or collections should be cached and configure the caching provider (e.g., Ehcache, Infinispan, etc.).

4. Configuration Required: Unlike the first-level cache, the second-level cache needs to be enabled and configured in the Hibernate configuration file.

5. Use Case: It is beneficial for applications with a high read-to-write ratio, where the same data is accessed frequently across different sessions. It helps reduce the number of database hits for commonly accessed data.

Summary

• First-Level Cache: Session-scoped, automatically managed, no configuration needed, short-lived.
• Second-Level Cache: SessionFactory-scoped, requires configuration, persists beyond a single session, useful for shared data across sessions.

In practice, using both levels of caching effectively can significantly enhance the performance of a Hibernate-based application.