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Khalil Ganiga Blog

Blog / Topic Guide

AEM Dispatcher & Caching Guide

11 articles

The Dispatcher is the single piece of AEM infrastructure most developers understand the least, and it is also the one most likely to cause a production incident when misconfigured. This guide collects everything on this site about the Dispatcher and the caching strategy built around it, in the order it actually makes sense to learn it: what the Dispatcher is and why it exists, how `dispatcher.any` is structured, how `/filter` rules keep your site secure, how `/cache` rules and cache invalidation work, and how that foundation scales into multi-CDN, high-availability architecture.

If you are troubleshooting a live issue rather than learning from scratch, jump straight to the troubleshooting and interview-question articles near the end.

Dispatcher Fundamentals

1

AEM Dispatcher Series 1 - A Developer’s Guide to What It Is and Why You Should Care

Learn about the AEM Dispatcher in perspective of developer, why it exists, and how it works as both a caching and security layer.

2

AEM Dispatcher Series 2 - Understanding the `dispatcher.any` File

A detailed walkthrough of the dispatcher.any configuration — explaining its key sections like /cache, /filter, /renders, and /farm. Learn how to read, structure, and maintain it properly.

3

AEM Dispatcher Series 3 - Securing Your AEM Site - Deep Dive into Dispatcher `/filter` Rules

A detailed walkthrough of the Dispatcher `/filter` Rules

4

AEM Dispatcher Series 4 - A Developer’s Guide to Dispatcher `/cache` Rules

A detailed walkthrough of the Dispatcher `/cache` Rules

5

AEM Dispatcher Series 5 - When and How to Clear Cache

Understand how AEM keeps cache fresh using the .stat file mechanism. Learn when and how Dispatcher marks content as stale, what /statfileslevel does, and how asset updates trigger invalidation.

6

AEM Dispatcher Series 6 - Handling Vanity URLs, Sessions, and /renders

Connecting Dispatcher to multiple Publish instances, handling logged-in user sessions securely, and implementing vanity URLs using Apache mod_rewrite.

7

AEM Dispatcher Series 7 - Dispatcher Troubleshooting

A practical guide to fixing common Dispatcher problems — stale pages, 403/404 errors, and caching issues. Learn how to read logs, test configurations, and debug step by step.

8

AEM Dispatcher Series 8 - Top 15 Interview Questions

The most common interview and practical questions around AEM Dispatcher. Perfect for refreshing concepts or preparing for real-world discussions.

Caching Strategy

1

AEM Caching Series 1 - Cache Basics And Foundational Dispatcher Invalidation

A clear, practical breakdown of how caching works across AEM’s CDN, Dispatcher, and Publish tiers. Learn why caching is mandatory for performance and how invalidation rules determine site speed and stability.

2

AEM Caching Part 2 - Practical Mid-Level Strategies for Dynamic Content and Dispatcher Configuration

A tactical deep dive into mid-level AEM caching techniques—selectors, query parameters, JSON APIs, and Dispatcher rules. Learn how to stabilize cache keys, prevent cache bloat, and avoid the misconfigurations that crush performance.

3

AEM Caching Part 3 - High-Traffic Architecture, Multi-CDN Design, GraphQL Caching, and System-Level Stability

A detailed architectural guide to building globally scalable AEM caching—covering multi-CDN setups, GraphQL caching, flush strategies, surge protection, segmentation, and advanced invalidation patterns. Learn how to keep Publish stable even under massive traffic.