Is the question 'Why did you choose the Cache-aside strategy?' normal?

The question "why did you choose the Cache-aside strategy?" is completely normal and even useful, especially for a senior developer. It helps to understand how well the candidate understands the trade-offs and features of different caching strategies.

Cache-aside (lazy caching) assumes that the application manages the cache itself: when a request is made, the cache is checked first, and if the data is not present, it is loaded from the database and placed in the cache. This is suitable for scenarios with irregular data updates and when it is important to avoid excessive caching.

Examples of reasons for choosing Cache-aside:

• Data is rarely updated, so there is no point in constantly updating the cache.
• It is necessary to control when and what to cache.
• It helps avoid issues with stale data, as the cache is only updated upon request.

Thus, the question helps assess the candidate's understanding of architectural decisions and trade-offs.