diff --git a/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_entry.dart b/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_entry.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95051c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_entry.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+class CacheEntry<T> {
+  final T value;
+  final DateTime fetchedAt;
+
+  const CacheEntry({required this.value, required this.fetchedAt});
+}
diff --git a/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_key.dart b/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_key.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5f75b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_key.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+class CacheKey {
+  final String value;
+
+  const CacheKey(this.value);
+
+  @override
+  String toString() => value;
+
+  @override
+  bool operator ==(Object other) {
+    return identical(this, other) ||
+        (other is CacheKey && other.value == value);
+  }
+
+  @override
+  int get hashCode => value.hashCode;
+}
diff --git a/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_policy.dart b/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_policy.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ebd479
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/lib/core/cache/cache_policy.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+class CacheDecision {
+  final bool canUseCached;
+  final bool shouldRefreshInBackground;
+  final bool mustBlockForNetwork;
+
+  const CacheDecision({
+    required this.canUseCached,
+    required this.shouldRefreshInBackground,
+    required this.mustBlockForNetwork,
+  });
+}
+
+class CachePolicy {
+  final Duration softTtl;
+  final Duration hardTtl;
+  final Duration minRefreshInterval;
+
+  const CachePolicy({
+    required this.softTtl,
+    required this.hardTtl,
+    this.minRefreshInterval = Duration.zero,
+  });
+
+  CacheDecision evaluate({required DateTime now, required DateTime fetchedAt}) {
+    final age = now.difference(fetchedAt);
+    if (age >= hardTtl) {
+      return const CacheDecision(
+        canUseCached: false,
+        shouldRefreshInBackground: false,
+        mustBlockForNetwork: true,
+      );
+    }
+
+    if (age >= softTtl) {
+      final shouldRefresh = age >= minRefreshInterval;
+      return CacheDecision(
+        canUseCached: true,
+        shouldRefreshInBackground: shouldRefresh,
+        mustBlockForNetwork: false,
+      );
+    }
+
+    return const CacheDecision(
+      canUseCached: true,
+      shouldRefreshInBackground: false,
+      mustBlockForNetwork: false,
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/test/core/cache/cache_policy_test.dart b/apps/test/core/cache/cache_policy_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f3db23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/test/core/cache/cache_policy_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:social_app/core/cache/cache_policy.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  test('soft expired should allow stale read with background refresh', () {
+    final now = DateTime(2026, 3, 20, 12);
+    final policy = CachePolicy(
+      softTtl: const Duration(minutes: 2),
+      hardTtl: const Duration(minutes: 30),
+      minRefreshInterval: const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
+
+    final fetchedAt = now.subtract(const Duration(minutes: 3));
+    final decision = policy.evaluate(now: now, fetchedAt: fetchedAt);
+    expect(decision.canUseCached, true);
+    expect(decision.shouldRefreshInBackground, true);
+    expect(decision.mustBlockForNetwork, false);
+  });
+}