Caching Data Objects when using Repository/Service Pattern and MVC

Steve Smith did two great blog posts which demonstrate how to use his CachedRepository pattern to achieve the result you’re looking for.

Introducing the CachedRepository Pattern

Building a CachedRepository via Strategy Pattern

In these two posts he shows you how to set up this pattern and also explains why it is useful. By using this pattern you get caching without your existing code seeing any of the caching logic. Essentially you use the cached repository as if it were any other repository.

public class CachedAlbumRepository : IAlbumRepository
{
    private readonly IAlbumRepository _albumRepository;

    public CachedAlbumRepository(IAlbumRepository albumRepository)
    {
        _albumRepository = albumRepository;
    }

    private static readonly object CacheLockObject = new object();

    public IEnumerable<Album> GetTopSellingAlbums(int count)
    {
        Debug.Print("CachedAlbumRepository:GetTopSellingAlbums");
        string cacheKey = "TopSellingAlbums-" + count;
        var result = HttpRuntime.Cache[cacheKey] as List<Album>;
        if (result == null)
        {
            lock (CacheLockObject)
            {
                result = HttpRuntime.Cache[cacheKey] as List<Album>;
                if (result == null)
                {
                    result = _albumRepository.GetTopSellingAlbums(count).ToList();
                    HttpRuntime.Cache.Insert(cacheKey, result, null, 
                        DateTime.Now.AddSeconds(60), TimeSpan.Zero);
                }
            }
        }
        return result;
    }
}