3 June 2024
If you have ever handled a WordPress website, then you are most likely familiar with caching. A lot of WordPress hosts offer different types and forms of caching and as well as this there is also a wide choice in caching plugins.
So what is it and how does it benefit your website?
What is Caching?
WordPress is a versatile framework that enables viewable web pages for users. The processes that occurs when a user accesses a WordPress website, has a few steps in the sequence. One step includes taking information from your website’s database. It takes multiple queries and information from your web database, which is rendered before the final website display can be viewed. While your webpage is activated, it prompts your host to tap on servers to handle the process. Having a large amount of traffic can affect the server’s system because of its limited resources causing it not to run properly.
In order to cope up with the demands and to avoid unwanted errors, caching is used. Caching basically means creating a static copy of your page or post to be presented to your users. WordPress is in charge of the processes to run the page once someone visits for the first time. The page then becomes cached for the next visitors.
Benefits of Caching
Speed
Since the server has to only give a static copy of your page, the processes are manageable. Thus, the load-time is faster making it more convenient to your users and avoids the risk of getting penalised by Google.
Server Load Reduction
Before being cached, the server has to render a page just once, making it easier for the static copy to be served that avoids the risk of pages getting crashed.
Problems with Caching
Caching is undeniably helpful in almost every WordPress website because of its benefits. But just like any system, there can be flaws along the way that you need to be aware of. One of which is that it lacks the ability to present updates real time on your website visitors.
As mentioned, the caching system keeps the data of your web page or post. Thus, this affects the content by number of reasons. First is user update and second, updates made by dynamic code. You have to make sure that both information runs smoothly and immediately reflected on your website. But at times, this can be a challenge during caching, as there are instances that it continues to serve old static copies of your website.
Although this problem may seem to be a hassle, most of the time, the solution is rather easy through flushing the cache allowing it to clear itself to serve an updated static version of your website.
Caching Options
There are two ways of caching your WordPress website, the first option is by using a caching plugin or having a managed WordPress host that serves caching within their platform.
Plugins
Provide a quick and easy way of caching. Plugins vary in quality and usually need mastery to set up. You also need to regularly monitor and test to ensure that it works properly. You can choose several plugins like W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache or WP Super Cache to name a few.
Managed Caching
Usually provides a more reliable and carefully developed setup. It is also faster and requires zero setup on your part making it more convenient. There are many web hosts that offer some form of caching as part of their hosting solutions.
If you want to learn more about caching, feel free to contact us today!
