Search Record Concerning Cache Blame
Something is behaving incorrectly. The cache has been identified as the likely cause. This happened before the cache was checked.
SEARCH RECORD — Cache Blame Investigation
SEARCH 1: "why is my feature not working as expected" Context: The feature returned an unexpected result. No other investigation had been conducted. The search was exploratory. Top result: Clear your cache. Action taken: Cache cleared. Result: Feature still returning unexpected result.
SEARCH 2: "feature still wrong after clearing cache" Context: Cache had been cleared. The issue persisted. Top result: Try a hard refresh. Action taken: Hard refresh performed. Result: Same.
SEARCH 3: "hard refresh not working cache issue" Context: Both standard cache interventions had been applied without resolution. Top results: Clear cookie cache. Clear browser storage. Check CDN cache. Check service worker cache. Actions taken: Three of the four, excluding CDN cache because that would require a different tool. Result: Same.
SEARCH 4: "what else could cause this besides cache" Context: Cache exhausted as explanation. Results: Many options. Finding: An environment variable was missing from the configuration. This variable had been present on the previous environment and had not been included in the new one. It was not a cache issue.
The Pattern
The cache receives blame before being checked because clearing the cache is a reversible, fast, and often effective first action. Its diagnostic value is real. Its scope of responsibility is routinely exceeded.
In this case, the cache was cleared correctly and was not the issue. Four cache-related actions were performed. The actual issue was identified on the fifth search when cache was no longer a viable explanation.
The environment variable is now present. The feature works.
The cache was innocent. This will not change the order of investigation next time.