The Temporary Internet Files folder is the location on your hard disk where Web pages and files (such as graphics) are stored as you view them. This speeds up the display of pages you frequently visit or have already seen, because Internet Explorer can open them from your hard disk instead of from the Web.
Increasing the space you set for this folder can increase how fast previously visited pages are displayed, but decreases the amount of space available for other files on your computer. You can set the size of this folder, or empty it, to control how much space it uses on your hard disk.
Internet files are also stored on your computer when you make Web pages available for offline browsing. You can view these files without being connected to the Internet.
To learn about how Web pages are stored on your computer, click Related Topics below.