The 24-Hour Rule: Each time a result in the cache is accessed (re-used), the 24-hour timer resets. This means a frequently used result set could technically stay in the cache indefinitely, provided the underlying data hasn't changed.

Purging: The cache is automatically purged if the underlying data in the table changes, as the results would no longer be "fresh."

Global Access: The Result Cache is unique because it is stored in the Cloud Services layer. This allows different users across the same account to use the same cached results without needing a running Virtual Warehouse, saving on compute costs.

Why the other options are incorrect:

1, 3, or 12 Hours: While these are common intervals for other types of technical timeouts, Snowflake specifically uses a 24-hour window to maximize the chances of query reuse for daily reporting cycles