Ehcache vs Infinispan: What are the differences?

Introduction

Ehcache and Infinispan are both Java-based distributed caching systems that provide in-memory data storage for enhancing application performance. Despite their similarities, there are several key differences that distinguish Ehcache from Infinispan.

1. Data Replication: Ehcache primarily focuses on providing replication-based caching capabilities, where multiple copies of the same data are stored across different nodes in a cluster. This ensures high availability and fault tolerance in case one node fails. On the other hand, Infinispan goes beyond replication and supports more advanced data distribution strategies, including data partitioning and sharing across the cluster.

2. Data Consistency: Infinispan offers strong data consistency guarantees across the distributed cache, ensuring that any updates to data are propagated to all nodes before acknowledging the operation's success. In contrast, Ehcache does not prioritize strict consistency and allows for weaker consistency models, such as eventual consistency. This difference is crucial in scenarios where maintaining strong data integrity is paramount.

3. Integration with Java EE: Infinispan is designed to seamlessly integrate with Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) containers, providing features like JTA (Java Transaction API) transaction support, integration with JPA (Java Persistence API), and the ability to be used as a second-level cache in Hibernate ORM (Object-Relational Mapping). Although Ehcache also offers integration with Java EE, Infinispan provides more extensive and refined support for Java EE platforms.

4. Storage Persistence: Ehcache primarily focuses on in-memory storage and provides limited support for disk-based persistence. It allows storing cache data on disk to ensure data durability and availability even after a system restart. Conversely, Infinispan includes more comprehensive support for different storage backends, such as file-based, database-backed, or even cloud-based storage. This broader range of options gives users more flexibility in choosing the right storage backend according to their specific requirements.

5. Query Capabilities: Infinispan provides built-in support for querying cache data using a simple query language called "Infinispan Query DSL." This enables developers to search for specific entries or values within the cache using various criteria. Ehcache, on the other hand, does not offer a built-in query framework, requiring developers to rely on external tools or custom implementation to query cache data effectively.

6. Supported APIs and Standards: Ehcache is designed as a standalone caching library and can be tightly integrated into applications using its native API or through frameworks like Spring. Infinispan, in addition to offering a native API, also provides compatibility with standard Java caching APIs like JSR-107 (JCache). This compatibility allows developers to reuse existing code built on these standard APIs, making it easier to migrate or adopt Infinispan into existing Java applications.

In summary, Ehcache focuses on replication-based caching with limited disk persistence and integration options, while Infinispan offers superior data consistency, more extensive storage persistence choices, advanced query capabilities, and better integration with Java EE standards.