PHP header / cache

[johnsmith153]

I want to set the correct header / cache values for a site.

 

I am working on a social network / forum style site.

 

I want to ensure that every page a user requests results in a fresh one being requested from the server as most content changes by the minute.

 

(1) How would I set this?

 

(2) Also, can I prevent nav bars being reloaded as these never, ever change.

[joel24]

if you're pulling the page's content from a database it will automatically refresh the page each time the database is updated... the cache won't affect this

[johnsmith153]

Are you sure? Can someone else confirm this as well?

[joel24]

sorry, I mean automatically refresh the page each time it is loaded by the user.

 

if you want it to automatically refresh like facebook etc, you'll need to use AJAX/jquery.

[johnsmith153]

This is nothing to do with the question I am asking. Can someone else offer any help?

[BlueSkyIS]

use cache control headers before your content. this will cause all content (including nav) to be reloaded.

[johnsmith153]

(1) Can you stop it from reloading the nav bar - as it would be better of course if it only reloaded parts that needed it?

 

(2) If I didn't specify any headers, how much of an impact would it have? (e.g. new forum posts not seen for days or until user clears cache ??)