title: ASP.NET server-side cache lifetime?
body: <p>I have written a small ASHX handler that uses a small state object that I'd like to persist through the lifetime of a series of requests.  I have the handler putting the object in the server-side cache (<code>HttpContext.Current.Cache</code>) and retrieving it at the start of <code>ProcessRequest</code>.</p>
  
  <p>How long can I expect that object to remain in the cache?  I expect handler instances to come and go, so I wanted something to persist across all of them (until no longer needed as determined by the requests themselves).  However, if I have the handler write to the application log when it has to create a new state object due to it not being in the cache, I'm seeing it create it 2-3 times.</p>