Understanding the Difference between First-Level and Second-Level Cache in Hibernate

When it comes to Hibernate caching, it is crucial to grasp the distinction between the first-level and second-level cache. The focus keyword in this context is "Hibernate caching."

First-Level Cache:

The first-level cache in Hibernate operates at the session level. It is enabled by default and stores the objects that have been recently queried within a particular session. This means that if an entity is fetched multiple times within the same session, Hibernate will retrieve it from the cache instead of hitting the database repeatedly. However, this cache is limited to the scope of a single session and is not shared across different sessions.

Second-Level Cache:

On the other hand, the second-level cache in Hibernate is a shared cache that exists beyond the boundaries of a session. It can store entities fetched from the database and can be utilized by multiple sessions. This enhances performance by reducing the number of queries sent to the database, especially for frequently accessed data. It is worth noting that the second-level cache needs to be explicitly configured based on the requirements of the application.

In summary, the first-level cache is session-specific and short-lived, while the second-level cache is shared and can be utilized across multiple sessions for improved performance in Hibernate caching.