The described technology relates to rendering a client-side user interface using a server-side cache for providing the displayed data. In an example implementation, in response to a user interface (e.g., dashboard with multiple widgets in a web application) being launched on the client device, the server initiates a refresh of the cache for the widgets; and transmits a first set of data obtained from the cache for widgets in the user interface before the cache is updated in response to the initiated refresh. The first set of data is followed by a second set of data obtained from the cache for at least some of the widgets after the cache is updated in response to the initiated refresh. The client displays the user interface using the second set of data while overwriting, for one or more of the widgets, information previously displayed using the first set of data.