[id='how_expiration_works-{context}']
= How Expiration Works
When you configure expiration, {brandname} stores keys with metadata that
determines when entries expire.

* Lifespan uses a `creation` timestamp and the value for the `lifespan` configuration property.
* Maximum idle uses a `last used` timestamp and the value for the `max-idle` configuration property.

{brandname} checks if lifespan or maximum idle metadata is set and then
compares the values with the current time.

If `(creation + lifespan < currentTime)` or `(lastUsed + maxIdle < currentTime)` then {brandname} detects that the entry is expired.

Expiration occurs whenever entries are accessed or found by the expiration
reaper.

For example, `k1` reaches the maximum idle time and a client makes a
`Cache.get(k1)` request. In this case, {brandname} detects that the entry is
expired and removes it from the data container. The `Cache.get()` returns
`null`.

{brandname} also expires entries from cache stores, but only with lifespan
expiration. Maximum idle expiration does not work with cache stores. In the
case of cache loaders, {brandname} cannot expire entries because loaders can
only read from external storage.

[NOTE]
====
{brandname} adds expiration metadata as `long` primitive data types to cache
entries. This can increase the size of keys by as much as 32 bytes.
====
