node-cache-lite

A lightweight, high-performance in-memory cache for Node.js with TTL (Time To Live), automatic eviction, and zero dependencies.

Designed for MVPs, small SaaS applications, APIs, and microservices where Redis introduces unnecessary complexity.

Features

• Lightweight and fast in-memory caching
• TTL (Time To Live) support per key
• Optional maximum cache size with automatic eviction
• Built-in cache statistics (hits, misses, evictions)
• getOrSet() helper for the cache-aside pattern
• Batch operations (setMultiple, getMultiple, deleteMultiple)
• First-class TypeScript support
• Zero dependencies
• Fully tested

Installation

npm install node-cache-lite

or

yarn add node-cache-lite

Quick Start

import { createCache } from "node-cache-lite";

const cache = createCache();

cache.set("key", "value");

const value = cache.get("key");

cache.has("key");

cache.delete("key");

cache.clear();

Time To Live (TTL)

const cache = createCache();

cache.set("sessionId", "abc123", 5000);

console.log(cache.get("sessionId"));

setTimeout(() => {
  console.log(cache.get("sessionId"));
}, 5001);

TTL is defined per key. Expired entries are removed lazily to avoid unnecessary background timers.

Configuration Options

const cache = createCache({
  maxSize: 100
});

CacheOptions

| Option | Type | Description | |--------|--------|-------------| | maxSize | number | Maximum number of entries allowed in the cache |

When the maximum size is reached, the oldest entries are evicted automatically.

API Reference

createCache(options?: CacheOptions): CacheInstance

Creates a new cache instance.

cache.set(key: string, value: T, ttl?: number): void

Stores a value in the cache.

cache.get(key: string): T | undefined

Retrieves a value from the cache.

cache.has(key: string): boolean

Checks whether a key exists and is not expired.

cache.delete(key: string): boolean

Deletes a key from the cache.

cache.clear(): void

Removes all entries from the cache.

cache.size(): number

Returns the number of entries currently stored.

cache.getOrSet(key: string, fallback: () => Promise | T, ttl?: number): Promise

Implements the cache-aside pattern.

Batch Operations

cache.setMultiple([
  ["a", 1],
  ["b", 2]
]);

const values = cache.getMultiple(["a", "b"]);

cache.deleteMultiple(["a", "b"]);

Cache Statistics

cache.stats();

Returns:

{
  hits: number;
  misses: number;
  evictions: number;
}

Testing

npm test

License

MIT