File System Enabling Fast Purges and File Access

A computer-implemented method for efficiently purging cached content from a file system, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• identifying a common directory path that is specified as a location for a plurality of files associated with a plurality of different content;
• generating a subdirectory within the directory path for each item of content of the plurality of content;
• for each set of the plurality of files that is associated with same content, storing the set of files to a subdirectory within the directory path that is generated for that same content;
• receiving a purge operation directed to particular content of the plurality of different content;
• and
• purging a particular subdirectory within the directory path that contains the set of files that are associated with the particular content without analyzing any files in the directory path or the particular subdirectory.

For a caching server that distributes content in response to requests for said content, a computer-implemented method for organizing and managing cached content, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving a request for content, the request comprising a URL identifying the content by way of a filename that follows a terminal directory of a directory path;
• generating a directory name to a subdirectory within the terminal directory of the directory path;
• appending the directory name to the terminal directory of the directory path;
• determining if a file having the filename is stored to the subdirectory;
• and
• serving the file in response to the request when the file is stored to the subdirectory.