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How to use the Browser caching audit agent skill

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The browser-caching skill is an agent skill that gives an AI agent a checklist for auditing browser caching: how a site tells a visitor's browser to keep copies of files such as images, scripts and styles so they are not downloaded again. After reading this guide you will know what the skill makes the agent do, how to install it, how to ask for an audit in plain language, and what to check before acting on its advice.

Browser caching auditthedaviddias/Front-End-Checklist · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download the ZIP. Get the browser-caching skill ZIP from the page you are reading.
  2. 2Unzip the skill. Extract it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into the project's .claude/skills/ folder.
  3. 3Or upload it in the Claude apps. Go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill there if you use the apps.
  4. 4Describe the slow page. Ask in plain words about slow loads or repeat visits, naming the page if you can.
  5. 5Provide measurements. Share DevTools, Lighthouse or field data so the agent can confirm the bottleneck.
  6. 6Review the proposed headers. Check each suggested Cache-Control or ETag change against the files it affects.

What is the browser-caching skill and what does it make the agent do?

Browser caching lets returning visitors load a page faster because their browser already holds copies of static files. This skill points an agent at that problem. It is meant for auditing slow page loads, heavy assets, or rendering delays related to browser caching.

When the skill is active, the agent looks at slow or heavy pages and checks whether cache headers such as Cache-Control and ETags are set correctly for different file types. It can suggest fixes such as long-lived caching for hashed assets and short caching with revalidation for HTML. The skill asks that the bottleneck be confirmed with tools like DevTools, Lighthouse or field data before any change is recommended.

  • Use immutable caching for hashed assets with a max-age of up to one year
  • Use short cache plus revalidation for HTML pages
  • ETags enable efficient cache validation
  • stale-while-revalidate can improve perceived performance

How do you install the browser-caching skill?

Download the ZIP for this skill from the page you are reading. Unzip it into one of two locations, depending on how you work with your agent. Your personal skills folder is ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, use the .claude/skills/ folder inside that project.

If you use the Claude apps instead of a folder, you can upload the skill there under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

  • Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
  • Project install: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder
  • Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill

What files does the skill include?

The skill contains two files. SKILL.md holds the metadata and the core checks: Check, Fix, Explain and Code Review. references/rule.md holds longer implementation details, including a Next.js example that sets Cache-Control values for hashed static assets, images and HTML pages. The main file points to that reference for framework-specific guidance.

  • SKILL.md: description, quick reference and the checklist
  • references/rule.md: code examples and fuller implementation notes

How do you trigger the skill with a natural request?

You do not need a special command. Describe the performance problem in plain words and mention caching or repeat visits. The agent should match the request to the skill's description about slow page loads, heavy assets and rendering delays.

Good requests name the page or the symptom and ask for measured evidence. Asking for the bottleneck to be confirmed first keeps the agent aligned with the skill's rule.

  • "Our returning visitors still download the same images. Audit our cache headers for the homepage."
  • "This product page feels slow on repeat visits. Check whether browser caching is the bottleneck before suggesting changes."
  • "Review how our static JS and CSS files are cached and tell me which ones need immutable caching."
  • "Check whether our HTML pages use ETags and revalidation correctly."

What do you need before running an audit?

The skill lists no required tools, does not run scripts, and does not use the network. The agent works from the material you give it and the checklist in the skill files.

The fixes, however, usually mean editing server or CDN configuration. If you cannot change those settings, the advice may not be actionable. For measurements, the skill expects you to use DevTools, Lighthouse or field data, so have those ready to share with the agent.

  • No listed requirements
  • Runs scripts: no
  • Uses network: no
  • Fixes require access to server configuration or CDN settings

What should you check before applying the advice?

Treat the agent's suggestions as a starting point. The skill asks for the actual bottleneck to be verified before changes are recommended, so ask the agent to name the measurement method it used and the exact files or requests it flagged.

If your caching is managed by a platform or CDN you cannot change, confirm that before acting. The skill's own guidance on configuration assumes you can edit headers.

  • Ask which DevTools, Lighthouse or field-data signal supports each finding
  • Check that flagged files are the ones actually loaded on the slow page
  • Test header changes in a staging environment before production
public, max-age=31536000, immutable

What people use it for

  • Finding static JS, CSS and image files that lack long-lived caching
  • Reviewing whether HTML pages revalidate correctly with ETags
  • Preparing a performance pass before a site launch
  • Explaining to a team why returning visitors still download the same assets

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the browser-caching skill?

Download the ZIP from the page, then unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, you can instead upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Does the browser-caching skill need any requirements?

The skill lists no required tools. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. Acting on its advice usually requires access to server or CDN configuration.

Is the browser-caching skill free?

The skill is released under the MIT licence. The source page does not list pricing, so check the licence terms in the repository for details.

Will this skill make my site faster by itself?

No. The skill audits cache headers and suggests fixes, but the changes must be made in your server or CDN settings. It asks that the bottleneck be confirmed with tools like DevTools or Lighthouse first.

Can I use this if my platform or CDN manages caching?

Only partly. If you cannot change the headers, the skill's advice may not be actionable. Confirm what your platform allows before relying on the recommendations.

What is the difference between browser caching and a CDN?

Browser caching stores files on the visitor's own device so they are not downloaded again. A CDN is a separate service that serves files from servers closer to visitors. This skill focuses on the browser-side cache headers.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you are a web developer or front-end team reviewing why a site feels slow for returning visitors, or you want a structured checklist for cache header configuration. Pick something else if you only want a faster site without access to server or CDN settings, or if your caching is fully controlled by a platform you cannot change.

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