Why does a website often load faster the second time you open it? The answer is caching, the process of saving a ready-made copy of something so it can be served quickly the next time.
For a WordPress site, good caching is one of the easiest ways to cut loading time and reduce the load on your server.
Why does WordPress need caching?
WordPress is dynamic. On every visit, PHP runs, the database answers several queries, and the server builds the page from scratch. That is a lot of work for a page that may not have changed in weeks.
A cache skips most of that work. Think of a tea stall that keeps a hot flask ready during the morning rush instead of brewing every cup from scratch.
Types of caching
- Page caching: saves the final HTML of a page and serves it to the next visitors.
- Browser caching: tells the visitor's browser to keep files like images and CSS for a set time.
- Object caching: stores the results of database queries in memory.
- CDN caching: keeps copies of your files on servers around the world.
WordPress core does not include page caching. You get it from a cache plugin or from your host, and plenty of hosts now build it in.
How to set up caching in WordPress
- First, check whether your host already provides server-level caching.
- Next, if it does not, install a caching plugin from the Plugins screen in your dashboard.
- Now, turn on page caching in the plugin's settings.
- Finally, open your site in a private browser window and check that everything looks right.
Our list of the best caching plugins for WordPress will help you choose one.
Use only one page caching plugin at a time. Two caching plugins running together often conflict and can break your layout.
Whenever you change your design or a post does not update, clear the cache. Our guide on clearing the WordPress cache manually shows you how.
That's all for now. A little caching goes a long way for speed. Do let us know which setup works for you in the comment box below.