If your website loads slowly or you want to improve its performance, caching could be the solution. Here you can find out what this term means and what advantages a caching plugin for WordPress offers.
What exactly is a cache?
The “cache” is a virtual buffer that stores data that is frequently accessed. The process of storing data in the cache is known as “caching”. Given the growing size of websites, caches are widely used nowadays. They solve a common problem: increasing the size of websites, which can lead to longer loading times for visitors and poorer search engine rankings. Caching plugins for WordPress are an effective solution to make the website more efficient for visitors.
How exactly does caching work?
Every time a user accesses a website, numerous requests are sent to the server. Depending on the amount of data and the number of database queries, this process can take several seconds. This is where caching comes in: Relevant data is cached the first time the website is accessed. On subsequent visits, the data does not have to be retrieved from the server again, but can be loaded directly from the cache. Caching minimises queries when the same website is called up again and therefore speeds up loading times.
Different types of caches
With caching, there are different types of caches that store and manage different types of data. Each type of cache has its own specific function and benefits for the performance of a website.
Page caching: Page caching refers to the temporary storage of entire pages in the cache. When a visitor accesses a page for the first time, it is generated in full and stored in the cache. On the next visit, the page can be loaded directly from the cache without the server having to generate the page again. This leads to significantly shorter loading times and a lower load on the server.
Database caching: Database caching refers to the caching of database queries in the cache. When a website accesses a database to retrieve certain information, the result of this query can be stored in the cache. The next time the same data is accessed, the website can load it directly from the cache instead of sending a query to the database again. This reduces the number of database queries and speeds up the page loading speed.
Object caching: Object caching refers to the caching of PHP objects in the cache. This makes it possible to store and reuse frequently used PHP objects between different page requests. When a website creates or manipulates certain PHP objects, these can be stored in the cache. When the same page is called up again, the saved objects can be loaded directly from the cache instead of creating them again. This helps to reduce server load and speed up page load times.
Each of these cache types plays an important role in optimising website performance. By caching and reusing frequently accessed data, they help to reduce load times and improve the user experience.
The advantages of caching:
Caching offers website operators and users several advantages:
- Increased performance (website loading time): Caching speeds up loading times, resulting in a better user experience.
- Search engine friendly: Fast loading times are an important factor for a good search engine ranking.
- Reduction of database queries: Minimises the need to retrieve data from the database on every page request.
- Reduce server load: Fewer requests to the server means less load and faster response times.
- Usability increase: Fast loading pages improve the user experience and increase visitor satisfaction.
Why you should use caching as a WordPress user:
WordPress users particularly benefit from caching, as WordPress has a dynamic website structure. Compared to simple, static HTML websites, where data is delivered directly, dynamic websites have several components communicating with each other. This process is more complex and requires more time until the data is available to the user.
Difference between a caching plugin and browser caching:
A caching plugin regulates caching directly in WordPress and optimises communication between the database, content management system and server. It reduces database queries, saves entire pages in the cache and compresses CSS and JavaScript.
Browser caching, on the other hand, stores data locally on the user’s computer so that it can be loaded more quickly when they visit the site again. It mainly affects elements such as graphics that are downloaded on the first visit.
How to test your website with a caching plugin:
To test the effectiveness of a caching plugin, it is advisable to measure the website performance before and after. Tools such as PageSpeed Insights or Pingdom offer detailed analyses of website performance. They show loading times, page and file sizes as well as suggestions for improvement.
Integration of best practices for website optimisation
Tips for image optimisation, minimising CSS and JavaScript and improving server configuration for faster website load times:
Image optimisation: Compress images before uploading them to your website to reduce the file size without significantly affecting the image quality. Use the correct image format (e.g. JPEG for photos and PNG for graphics with transparency) and make sure to include images in the correct size to avoid unnecessary loading times.
Minimise CSS and JavaScript: Remove unnecessary spaces, comments and line breaks from your CSS and JavaScript files to minimise their size. This can significantly reduce the loading time of your website. Also, use tools and plugins that automatically minimise your CSS and JavaScript files to simplify the process.
Improve server configuration: Optimise server configuration to improve server response times and reduce website load time. This can include using HTTP/2, the latest HTTP protocol that supports multiplexing and server push, and implementing Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to deliver content from servers close to users.
Guide to optimising website structure and content for more efficient use of caching:
Efficient website structure: Ensure your website has a clear and efficient structure that allows caching to store and reuse content effectively. Use a logical folder structure and name files and directories sensibly to ensure optimal caching performance.
Optimise website content: Reduce the number of HTTP requests by combining CSS and JavaScript and grouping files together. This minimises the number of files that the browser has to download and speeds up the page load time. In addition, you should remove unnecessary or outdated content and ensure that your website uses clean and efficient code to further reduce load times.
By implementing these website optimisation best practices, you can not only improve the performance of your website, but also ensure that it effectively benefits from caching techniques and provides an optimal user experience.
Step-by-step guides to diagnosing caching issues and fixing performance bottlenecks:
When using caching techniques, problems can occasionally occur that can affect website performance. To diagnose and resolve such problems, it is important to use a systematic approach:
- Check the cache settings: Make sure that your caching plugins or tools are properly configured and that there are no conflicts with other plugins.
- Test different cache levels: Try enabling or disabling different types of caches (e.g. page caching, database caching) and check how this affects website performance.
- Monitor server resources: Make sure that your server provides sufficient resources for caching and that there are no bottlenecks that could affect performance.
- Check for conflicts with other plugins or themes: Sometimes plugins or themes can cause conflicts with caching tools. Temporarily deactivate other plugins or themes and check if the problem persists.
- Clear the cache: If you have problems with outdated or incorrectly cached pages, clear the cache completely and regenerate it to ensure that all content is cached correctly.
Conclusion:
The integration of a caching plugin is a crucial part of improving the performance of your website. Regardless of the size of your website, the loading time can be reduced and the user experience optimised. With a well-configured caching plugin, you reduce the load on the server performance and reduce database queries, resulting in an overall faster website.
