Can Key Vault secrets be cached locally?

Short answer: Yes, using in-memory caching or Azure App Configuration with Key Vault integration. Improves performance and reduces frequent Key Vault calls.

Real-world example (ShopNest)

Connection strings and payment keys live in Key Vault—not in source control or plain appsettings on disk.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.