actions/cache is a GitHub Actions action that caches dependencies and build outputs to improve workflow execution time.
The action addresses the problem of slow workflow runs by storing build artifacts and dependencies between job executions, eliminating the need to rebuild or re-download them each time. It works by saving specified paths to cache storage during a workflow run and restoring them in subsequent runs when the cache key matches, reducing overall execution time for CI/CD pipelines.
Teams using GitHub Actions should adopt this tool if they have workflows that repeatedly install dependencies or build artifacts that can be reused across runs. It suits any project with package managers, compiled outputs, or other cacheable build artifacts. The README documents two companion actions available alongside the primary cache action: a restore action and a save action, allowing fine-grained control over caching behavior if needed.
The project has undergone significant backend infrastructure changes, with the cache service rewritten for improved performance and reliability. The tool has migrated to an ESM module system and updated its runtime to Node.js 24, requiring a minimum Actions Runner version of 2.327.1 for compatibility. The project maintains backward compatibility across these changes, though users on self-hosted runners must update their runner versions to ensure the action functions correctly after the service migration.
