diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bridge/Doctrine/Tests/DependencyInjection/DoctrineExtensionTest.php b/src/Symfony/Bridge/Doctrine/Tests/DependencyInjection/DoctrineExtensionTest.php
index 3a7fc18058..4106683661 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bridge/Doctrine/Tests/DependencyInjection/DoctrineExtensionTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bridge/Doctrine/Tests/DependencyInjection/DoctrineExtensionTest.php
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ class DoctrineExtensionTest extends TestCase
         return new ContainerBuilder(new ParameterBag(array_merge([
             'kernel.bundles' => ['FrameworkBundle' => 'Symfony\\Bundle\\FrameworkBundle\\FrameworkBundle'],
             'kernel.cache_dir' => __DIR__,
+            'kernel.build_dir' => __DIR__,
             'kernel.container_class' => 'kernel',
             'kernel.project_dir' => __DIR__,
         ], $data)));
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bundle/DebugBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/DebugExtensionTest.php b/src/Symfony/Bundle/DebugBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/DebugExtensionTest.php
index 2219b4e70e..31afae4d93 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bundle/DebugBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/DebugExtensionTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bundle/DebugBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/DebugExtensionTest.php
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ class DebugExtensionTest extends TestCase
     {
         $container = new ContainerBuilder(new ParameterBag([
             'kernel.cache_dir' => __DIR__,
+            'kernel.build_dir' => __DIR__,
             'kernel.charset' => 'UTF-8',
             'kernel.debug' => true,
             'kernel.project_dir' => __DIR__,
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/AboutCommand.php b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/AboutCommand.php
index 12c13024a1..44a53a542e 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/AboutCommand.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/AboutCommand.php
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ EOT
         /** @var KernelInterface $kernel */
         $kernel = $this->getApplication()->getKernel();
 
+        if (method_exists($kernel, 'getBuildDir')) {
+            $buildDir = $kernel->getBuildDir();
+        } else {
+            $buildDir = $kernel->getCacheDir();
+        }
+
         $rows = [
             ['<info>Symfony</>'],
             new TableSeparator(),
@@ -76,6 +82,7 @@ EOT
             ['Debug', $kernel->isDebug() ? 'true' : 'false'],
             ['Charset', $kernel->getCharset()],
             ['Cache directory', self::formatPath($kernel->getCacheDir(), $kernel->getProjectDir()).' (<comment>'.self::formatFileSize($kernel->getCacheDir()).'</>)'],
+            ['Build directory', self::formatPath($buildDir, $kernel->getProjectDir()).' (<comment>'.self::formatFileSize($buildDir).'</>)'],
             ['Log directory', self::formatPath($kernel->getLogDir(), $kernel->getProjectDir()).' (<comment>'.self::formatFileSize($kernel->getLogDir()).'</>)'],
             new TableSeparator(),
             ['<info>PHP</>'],
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/CacheClearCommand.php b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/CacheClearCommand.php
index 29791ab119..0dada3d7d1 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/CacheClearCommand.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Command/CacheClearCommand.php
@@ -79,17 +79,23 @@ EOF
         $io = new SymfonyStyle($input, $output);
 
         $kernel = $this->getApplication()->getKernel();
+        $realBuildDir = $kernel->getContainer()->getParameter('kernel.build_dir');
         $realCacheDir = $kernel->getContainer()->getParameter('kernel.cache_dir');
         // the old cache dir name must not be longer than the real one to avoid exceeding
         // the maximum length of a directory or file path within it (esp. Windows MAX_PATH)
+        $oldBuildDir = substr($realBuildDir, 0, -1).('~' === substr($realBuildDir, -1) ? '+' : '~');
         $oldCacheDir = substr($realCacheDir, 0, -1).('~' === substr($realCacheDir, -1) ? '+' : '~');
-        $fs->remove($oldCacheDir);
+        $fs->remove([$oldBuildDir, $oldCacheDir]);
 
+        if (!is_writable($realBuildDir)) {
+            throw new RuntimeException(sprintf('Unable to write in the "%s" directory.', $realBuildDir));
+        }
         if (!is_writable($realCacheDir)) {
             throw new RuntimeException(sprintf('Unable to write in the "%s" directory.', $realCacheDir));
         }
 
         $io->comment(sprintf('Clearing the cache for the <info>%s</info> environment with debug <info>%s</info>', $kernel->getEnvironment(), var_export($kernel->isDebug(), true)));
+        $this->cacheClearer->clear($realBuildDir);
         $this->cacheClearer->clear($realCacheDir);
 
         // The current event dispatcher is stale, let's not use it anymore
@@ -155,17 +161,31 @@ EOF
                 }
             }
 
+            if ($oldBuildDir) {
+                $fs->rename($realBuildDir, $oldBuildDir);
+            } else {
+                $fs->remove($realBuildDir);
+            }
             if ($oldCacheDir) {
                 $fs->rename($realCacheDir, $oldCacheDir);
             } else {
                 $fs->remove($realCacheDir);
             }
             $fs->rename($warmupDir, $realCacheDir);
+            // Copy the content of the warmed cache in the build dir
+            $fs->copy($realCacheDir, $realBuildDir);
 
             if ($output->isVerbose()) {
-                $io->comment('Removing old cache directory...');
+                $io->comment('Removing old build and cache directory...');
             }
 
+            try {
+                $fs->remove($oldBuildDir);
+            } catch (IOException $e) {
+                if ($output->isVerbose()) {
+                    $io->warning($e->getMessage());
+                }
+            }
             try {
                 $fs->remove($oldCacheDir);
             } catch (IOException $e) {
@@ -184,7 +204,7 @@ EOF
         return 0;
     }
 
-    private function warmup(string $warmupDir, string $realCacheDir, bool $enableOptionalWarmers = true)
+    private function warmup(string $warmupDir, string $realBuildDir, bool $enableOptionalWarmers = true)
     {
         // create a temporary kernel
         $kernel = $this->getApplication()->getKernel();
@@ -207,7 +227,7 @@ EOF
 
         // fix references to cached files with the real cache directory name
         $search = [$warmupDir, str_replace('\\', '\\\\', $warmupDir)];
-        $replace = str_replace('\\', '/', $realCacheDir);
+        $replace = str_replace('\\', '/', $realBuildDir);
         foreach (Finder::create()->files()->in($warmupDir) as $file) {
             $content = str_replace($search, $replace, file_get_contents($file), $count);
             if ($count) {
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/FrameworkExtensionTest.php b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/FrameworkExtensionTest.php
index 878b2592f6..26dab6327b 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/FrameworkExtensionTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/FrameworkExtensionTest.php
@@ -1561,6 +1561,7 @@ abstract class FrameworkExtensionTest extends TestCase
             'kernel.bundles' => ['FrameworkBundle' => 'Symfony\\Bundle\\FrameworkBundle\\FrameworkBundle'],
             'kernel.bundles_metadata' => ['FrameworkBundle' => ['namespace' => 'Symfony\\Bundle\\FrameworkBundle', 'path' => __DIR__.'/../..']],
             'kernel.cache_dir' => __DIR__,
+            'kernel.build_dir' => __DIR__,
             'kernel.project_dir' => __DIR__,
             'kernel.debug' => false,
             'kernel.environment' => 'test',
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bundle/SecurityBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/Compiler/AddSessionDomainConstraintPassTest.php b/src/Symfony/Bundle/SecurityBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/Compiler/AddSessionDomainConstraintPassTest.php
index 66f9422732..cfa6b5e028 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bundle/SecurityBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/Compiler/AddSessionDomainConstraintPassTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bundle/SecurityBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/Compiler/AddSessionDomainConstraintPassTest.php
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ class AddSessionDomainConstraintPassTest extends TestCase
         $container = new ContainerBuilder();
         $container->setParameter('kernel.bundles_metadata', []);
         $container->setParameter('kernel.cache_dir', __DIR__);
+        $container->setParameter('kernel.build_dir', __DIR__);
         $container->setParameter('kernel.charset', 'UTF-8');
         $container->setParameter('kernel.container_class', 'cc');
         $container->setParameter('kernel.debug', true);
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bundle/WebProfilerBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/WebProfilerExtensionTest.php b/src/Symfony/Bundle/WebProfilerBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/WebProfilerExtensionTest.php
index 6c6fc7f0b4..0c81d82d7d 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bundle/WebProfilerBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/WebProfilerExtensionTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bundle/WebProfilerBundle/Tests/DependencyInjection/WebProfilerExtensionTest.php
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class WebProfilerExtensionTest extends TestCase
         $this->container->register('twig', 'Twig\Environment')->addArgument(new Reference('twig_loader'))->setPublic(true);
         $this->container->setParameter('kernel.bundles', []);
         $this->container->setParameter('kernel.cache_dir', __DIR__);
+        $this->container->setParameter('kernel.build_dir', __DIR__);
         $this->container->setParameter('kernel.debug', false);
         $this->container->setParameter('kernel.project_dir', __DIR__);
         $this->container->setParameter('kernel.charset', 'UTF-8');
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
index 8f7ff96808..ac83e9ed53 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
      */
     public function setAnnotatedClassCache(array $annotatedClasses)
     {
-        file_put_contents(($this->warmupDir ?: $this->getCacheDir()).'/annotations.map', sprintf('<?php return %s;', var_export($annotatedClasses, true)));
+        file_put_contents(($this->warmupDir ?: $this->getBuildDir()).'/annotations.map', sprintf('<?php return %s;', var_export($annotatedClasses, true)));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -333,6 +333,15 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
         return $this->getProjectDir().'/var/cache/'.$this->environment;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Gets the build directory.
+     */
+    public function getBuildDir(): string
+    {
+        // Returns $this->getCacheDir() for backward compatibility
+        return $this->getCacheDir();
+    }
+
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
@@ -419,14 +428,14 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
     /**
      * Initializes the service container.
      *
-     * The cached version of the service container is used when fresh, otherwise the
+     * The built version of the service container is used when fresh, otherwise the
      * container is built.
      */
     protected function initializeContainer()
     {
         $class = $this->getContainerClass();
-        $cacheDir = $this->warmupDir ?: $this->getCacheDir();
-        $cache = new ConfigCache($cacheDir.'/'.$class.'.php', $this->debug);
+        $buildDir = $this->warmupDir ?: $this->getBuildDir();
+        $cache = new ConfigCache($buildDir.'/'.$class.'.php', $this->debug);
         $cachePath = $cache->getPath();
 
         // Silence E_WARNING to ignore "include" failures - don't use "@" to prevent silencing fatal errors
@@ -448,7 +457,7 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
         $oldContainer = \is_object($this->container) ? new \ReflectionClass($this->container) : $this->container = null;
 
         try {
-            is_dir($cacheDir) ?: mkdir($cacheDir, 0777, true);
+            is_dir($buildDir) ?: mkdir($buildDir, 0777, true);
 
             if ($lock = fopen($cachePath.'.lock', 'w')) {
                 flock($lock, LOCK_EX | LOCK_NB, $wouldBlock);
@@ -533,8 +542,8 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
             if ($collectDeprecations) {
                 restore_error_handler();
 
-                file_put_contents($cacheDir.'/'.$class.'Deprecations.log', serialize(array_values($collectedLogs)));
-                file_put_contents($cacheDir.'/'.$class.'Compiler.log', null !== $container ? implode("\n", $container->getCompiler()->getLog()) : '');
+                file_put_contents($buildDir.'/'.$class.'Deprecations.log', serialize(array_values($collectedLogs)));
+                file_put_contents($buildDir.'/'.$class.'Compiler.log', null !== $container ? implode("\n", $container->getCompiler()->getLog()) : '');
             }
         }
 
@@ -570,7 +579,7 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
             $preload = array_merge($preload, (array) $this->container->get('cache_warmer')->warmUp($this->container->getParameter('kernel.cache_dir')));
         }
 
-        if ($preload && method_exists(Preloader::class, 'append') && file_exists($preloadFile = $cacheDir.'/'.$class.'.preload.php')) {
+        if ($preload && method_exists(Preloader::class, 'append') && file_exists($preloadFile = $buildDir.'/'.$class.'.preload.php')) {
             Preloader::append($preloadFile, $preload);
         }
     }
@@ -597,7 +606,8 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
             'kernel.project_dir' => realpath($this->getProjectDir()) ?: $this->getProjectDir(),
             'kernel.environment' => $this->environment,
             'kernel.debug' => $this->debug,
-            'kernel.cache_dir' => realpath($cacheDir = $this->warmupDir ?: $this->getCacheDir()) ?: $cacheDir,
+            'kernel.build_dir' => realpath($buildDir = $this->warmupDir ?: $this->getBuildDir()) ?: $buildDir,
+            'kernel.cache_dir' => realpath($this->getCacheDir()) ?: $this->getCacheDir(),
             'kernel.logs_dir' => realpath($this->getLogDir()) ?: $this->getLogDir(),
             'kernel.bundles' => $bundles,
             'kernel.bundles_metadata' => $bundlesMetadata,
@@ -615,7 +625,7 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, RebootableInterface, Terminabl
      */
     protected function buildContainer()
     {
-        foreach (['cache' => $this->warmupDir ?: $this->getCacheDir(), 'logs' => $this->getLogDir()] as $name => $dir) {
+        foreach (['cache' => $this->getCacheDir(), 'build' => $this->warmupDir ?: $this->getBuildDir(), 'logs' => $this->getLogDir()] as $name => $dir) {
             if (!is_dir($dir)) {
                 if (false === @mkdir($dir, 0777, true) && !is_dir($dir)) {
                     throw new \RuntimeException(sprintf('Unable to create the "%s" directory (%s).', $name, $dir));
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/KernelInterface.php b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/KernelInterface.php
index cea86f687a..c1be3aff43 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/KernelInterface.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/KernelInterface.php
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ use Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Bundle\BundleInterface;
  *
  * It manages an environment made of application kernel and bundles.
  *
+ * @method string getBuildDir() Returns the build directory - not implementing it is deprecated since Symfony 5.2.
+ *                              This directory should be used to store build artifacts, and can be read-only at runtime.
+ *                              Caches written at runtime should be stored in the "cache directory" ({@see KernelInterface::getCacheDir()}).
+ *
  * @author Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
  */
 interface KernelInterface extends HttpKernelInterface
@@ -121,6 +125,10 @@ interface KernelInterface extends HttpKernelInterface
     /**
      * Gets the cache directory.
      *
+     * Since Symfony 5.2, the cache directory should be used for caches that are written at runtime.
+     * For caches and artifacts that can be warmed at compile-time and deployed as read-only,
+     * use the new "build directory" returned by the {@see getBuildDir()} method.
+     *
      * @return string The cache directory
      */
     public function getCacheDir();
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/RebootableInterface.php b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/RebootableInterface.php
index 0dc46c3cef..e257237da9 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/RebootableInterface.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/RebootableInterface.php
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ interface RebootableInterface
     /**
      * Reboots a kernel.
      *
-     * The getCacheDir() method of a rebootable kernel should not be called
-     * while building the container. Use the %kernel.cache_dir% parameter instead.
+     * The getBuildDir() method of a rebootable kernel should not be called
+     * while building the container. Use the %kernel.build_dir% parameter instead.
      *
-     * @param string|null $warmupDir pass null to reboot in the regular cache directory
+     * @param string|null $warmupDir pass null to reboot in the regular build directory
      */
     public function reboot(?string $warmupDir);
 }