System cache

System cache is created by Mac OS X at a low level. When clearing system cache Cocktail will always clear cache in the following locations:

Always cleared cache

/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.bootefisignature
/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.IntlDataCache*
/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.bootstamps/
files which belongs to system applications in /System/Library/

Cocktail is by default set to clear even more system caches. Which system caches Cocktail is to clear is configurable in the options. The possibility to return to the initial settings is provided by the defaults button. The different caches supported by Cocktail is:

Available option caches:

Component cache
- Audio components
  /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.Components2.SystemCache.AudioComponents
  /Library/Caches/com.apple.Components2.LocalCache.AudioComponents
- QuickTime components
  /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.Components2.SystemCache.QuickTimeComponents
  /Library/Caches/com.apple.Components2.LocalCache.QuickTimeComponents
- Other components
  /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.Components2.SystemCache.Components
  /Library/Caches/com.apple.Components2.LocalCache.Components
CUPS (Common Unix Printing System)
/var/spool/cups/
/var/spool/cups/tmp/
Core files
/cores/
Kernel caches
/System/Library/Extension.kextcache
/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/
Lookupd cache
/etc/lookupd/*
Potentially harmful files
Removes most common trojans and worms such as iServices.A, iServices.B, RSPlug.A, Jahlav.A, Leap.A, Astht.A, Astht.B, Lamzev.A, Inqtana.A and PokerStealer as well as other harmful files. This feature does not protect against viruses or every known trojans and should only be considered a complement to a full-fledged antivirus application. If found, harmful files are removed and a report that is viewable in the activity log is issued.
Virtual memory swap files
/var/vm/

CUPS cache is files created by CUPS and contain the processed print information. CUPS is stopped while files are deleted and then restarted. Core files are files created when an application crashes and storing a copy of the application's state at the time it crashed. Kernel cache is cache used by the system to speed up loading of kernel extensions. Temporary files from user as well as system. Virtual memory swap files are used by the system to store often-used information from physical memory (RAM).

Online information

Cache by Wikipedia.
Maintaining Mac OS X by The X Lab.