What is caching? Learn this common and complex technique together.

It takes processing power and time to get information on the network. Data needs to be transferred from one server to another. The use of caching reduces this time and resource usage.

answers what caching is depending on the context. In general, caching is a way to save and quickly invoke commonly used data. Managing caching, especially when using WordPress, can be the difference between smooth, fast-running sites and frustratingly slow sites.

‘s article will answer “what is caching?” It’s a problem. And provide some insights on how to manage you.

1. what is caching? How does
2. cache help you optimize the website
3. using caching website technology
4. WordPress how to handle cache
5. how to install cache plug-in
6. how to clear cache

what is cache? How

Web caching works

cache takes the data processed by the application and stores it for later use. It doesn’t have to be in‘s ownbrowser, but you’ll find a lot of caching on the site and its underlying technology. “caching” is a term for storing and invoking saved data procedures. Caching usually consists of two elements: the

• cache software itself runs the process and shuttles it between various other elements.
• random access memory (RAM) and “in memory” engine. They store data passed through caching technology.

these elements must be of high quality and collaborative. A low-performing RAM will not be able to invoke data fast enough for the software to use it effectively.

takes into account the size of the page file, and most Web applications almost need caching. In some cases, a reliable implementation can provide you with valuable time. Users with fast loading speed of the review website indirectly praised the caching software at the core of the website server. We will cover this point in more detail next. How

caching helps you optimize your website

computer technology is constantly expanding. In other words, the size of memory, hard disk space, and other processing components of such computers is increasing rapidly. Gone are the days when we used 64KB RAM in our personal computers. Now you can usually see RAM in gigabytes (GB). Some newer Apple MacBook can even hold 64 GB of memory.

due to the requirements of modern Web development and related technology to place on-site code, the website is becoming more and more heavy. It not only needs to provide more processing power for end users, but also needs more powerful servers and technologies to adapt. If there is no memory (and cache), the load speed will be slow to crawl.

therefore, search engine Optimization (SEO) has long recognized that page speed is a major factor in site ranking. Although you don’t know the exact details, the ranking factors that place the site on the search engine results page (SERP) include a reference to the speed of the site. The

file size is compact and the average is just as good

although the ranking indicator does not use site speed as a direct measure as you might think-there are too many factors at work to use it as a reliable indicator-but many other aspects take it into account. For example, the quality of your site’s HTML code and the load time in Google Chrome can also have an impact. The page loading speed

recorded in

DevTools is about user experience (UX), a long-standing indicator that users will abandon the page after waiting only two seconds. It brings several problems:

• your Google RankBrain optimizations (including bounce rates) need to be accurate; otherwise, your SEO efforts will accomplish nothing.
• ‘s faster website loading speed will help control the bounce rate.
• the user experience of your site is one of the most critical elements of your site. Caching can help in all these areas by reducing the time it takes for a page to load with

. More importantly, your site will use fewer resources, which will have a further impact. In general, sites that quickly load the most relevant and up-to-date information will perform better than other sites. Next, we will examine some of the problems you may encounter when using caching. How

caching sometimes causes problems

of course, caching is not always flashy. The main problem is to implement a cache that runsandwell. For many small sites (or at least non-enterprise or network), large and frequent cache cycles are not required. It can see that your server wastes resources caching unchanged pages.

, on the other hand, policies and implementations with insufficient caching (or in the right way) may see you provide outdated pages. This problem sometimes occurs on the WordPress website. However, there are some techniques that can overcome it.

, of course, serving older cached versions of the page can cause problems. Consider an epidemic resource site that must update its information regularly. Now consider the impact on the page that the browser cache is insufficient or does not exist. The good news for

is that it is easy to set up caching to mitigate or mitigate the impact of these shortcomings. We’ll talk about this later.

uses cached Web site technology

. We have noticed how caching is usually involved in calculations in several different ways. In this article, however, we will look at non-CPU caching. If you review the Apple MacBook specification, you will notice that the cache in the processing chip usually contains several megabytes (MB):

The Apple MacBook specification shows that the built-in cache

is also suitable for mobile devices. But we are looking at using the server’s cache in some way. Here are some of the different technologies we are talking about:

• browsers. Whentalks about technology, browser caching is the first thing that comes to mind. It stores regular requests in the cache so that they can be loaded faster on the next call.
• device.although the CPU itself is beyond the scope of this article, browsers and applications on devices typically use storage and RAM to cache data.
• application.Yes, applications can also have a cache to store frequently used data. Again, this will use storage on devices that are not CPU to cache data.
• server. Another everyday use ofcaching. You can store and invoke some server data shuttling back and forth for faster execution and processing. An example of this is Redis caching.
• Domain name Server (DNS) cache.is an application that focuses on caching. The machines involved here do nothing but cache data, so front-line servers can shuttle data, while DNS caching ensures smooth operation.

before we move on, it’s worth pointing out some caching-related technologies. For example, you might think that storing cookie is similar to caching Web pages. In many ways, this is true. For example, cookies is stored on your computer after it is triggered by a browser. The difference here is that cookie stores information about you and your usage, not page status. The

content delivery Network (CDN) represents vaguer waters because it is the same as caching on paper. Instead of using the site directly, CDN stores the entire site as a set of static files. Therefore, although it has the characteristics of caching on the surface, it is a different way to store and deliver websites, and it still needs caching to run quickly. Some CDN such as Cloudflare strike a balance between these two aspects (and more), which is what makes the site faster and more secure. How

WordPress handles cached

although we like WordPress, it’s not the fastest platform. If you use WordPress on your website, you need to use caching to help provide a quick experience. The speed of your site is a joint effort between you, your host, and the caching plug-in of your choice. Note: some professional WordPress servers may adopt a series of caching technologies, but do not need any type of caching plug-in. In general, four different types of caches may be automatically provided at the software and server level:

• object caching.
• page cache.
• bytecode cache.
• CDN cache. If

covers these basics, you can ensure the speed of your site optimization. However, for customers who do not provide professional caching solutions for other hosts, a dedicated WordPress caching plug-in may be an excellent complement to your setup. There are many solutions available in the area of WordPress caching plug-ins, and having to make a choice can be overwhelming. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite options.

WP Super Cache

‘s most direct choice is to choose Automattic’s WP Super Cache:

WP Super Cache plug-in

, which is considered the “official” WordPress caching plug-in. It provides static HTML files instead of your dynamic PHP files (which are visible to almost all visitors without any loss of functionality).

more importantly, the plug-in includes “preload”, “garbage collection” (removing cached items that are no longer needed), CDN, and REST API endpoints for developers. It is a reliable entry point for caching plug-ins and may be just what you need.

W3 Total Cache

W3 Total Cache has long been on the installation list of many users: the

W3 Total Cache plug-in

, known as the “Web performance Optimization (WPO)” framework, claims to have nothing to do with the choice of Web hosts. It has a wealth of features and functions, but it is notorious for being overwhelming for new users. W3 Total Cache has many features, but you need time to use it in the best way.

also has some simple caching plug-ins that outperform its leading competitors in the eyes of some users. For example, both WP Fastest Cache and LiteSpeed Cache have rave reviews and simple dashboards.

WP Rocket

is dominated by WP Rocket in terms of professional caching plug-ins: the

WP Rocket plug-in

is a high-performance plug-in and easy to use. It applies a series of best practices and has more than 1.5 million users. WP Rocket is also compatible with most WordPress products and services. How

installs the cache plug-in

as for installing the cache plug-in, the process is simple, just like any other WordPress plug-in. Caching will be enabled when activated, and there will usually be a special panel to handle how plug-ins cache your site. For example, you can find options for WP Super Cache in theSettings & gt;WP Super Cachepanel: settings for

WP Super Cache

your specific plug-ins will have different settings depending on their complexity and goals. Solutions like WP Super Cache are deceptive. It looks simple on the surface, but as the advanced section shows, there are a lot of things that need to be patched under the hood:

WP Super Cache Advanced Settings

if you are not sure what a particular setting does, our advice is to stick with simple options. Most cache plug-ins have quick setup options for different cache settings. For example, WP Super Cache usesSimpleorExpertcaching: the main difference in the way

WP Super Cache is delivered by

is that the Expert mode uses Apache’s mod_rewrite option to provide cache files. However, for users who do not understand the inner workings of file cachingSimpleThe delivery method is acceptable. One of the more common requirements for

how to clear cache

is to know how to clear cache. As you might expect, there are several ways to do this, depending on your device or browser. We’ll take you through a variety of methods, starting with your desktop browser.

clears the browser’s cache

so far, the most common relationship between the end user and the cache is in the browser. If something goes wrong, clearing the browser cache is a time-tested and reliable way to get things back to normal. Therefore, it is a frequent method, just like closing and reopening something. Each browser has a dedicated preference screen that allows you to access the cache to varying degrees. For example, you can find Safari’s cache under the “Privacy” & gt; “Privacy”tab in thepreferencespane:

Safari’s privacy tab

compared to Firefox’sPrivacy & amp in itspreferenceThe securesection has a comprehensive set of features consistent with its status as a privacy-centric browser:

Firefox’s privacy and security preferences

are cached in the same place for most Chromium-based browsers, such as Google Chrome, Brave, and so on. Take Brave as an example, it is located in the attachment options ofpreference, under Privacy and Security section: privacy and Security section of

Brave

, Chrome puts options in front and middle of settings: privacy and security settings of

Google Chrome

for Microsoft Edge, cache is located in the “Privacy, search and Services”section of “Settings” Under“clear browse data“:

Microsoft Edge cache option

the good news is to clear the cache usually by clicking once and waiting for the browser to perform its operation. Most browsers allow you to choose which data to purge from the cache, so if you have specific requirements, this will certainly increase your “clicks”.

clear device cache

your smartphones and computers also have caches because they also need to store data so that they can be called at any time. As you might expect, each operating system (OS) and platform has a different approach. For example, on Mac, you will go to the ~/Library/Caches/location in macOS: the Go window of

Finder shows the location of the Mac cache. When

arrives here, you will notice that cache is a collection of files that can be dragged to the wastebasket:

macOS cache folder

for Windows 10, some different caches have been found throughout the operating system. We went a little too far, but to clear the DNS cache, you need to run the command prompt as an administrator:

Windows command prompt

from here, typeipconfig/flushDNS. After running, Windows will flush the DNS cache:

refreshes the cache

in Windows you will also find that the Linux distribution uses terminals and command lines to clear the system cache:

refreshes the cache in Debian

mobile devices usually do not have a central cache that needs to be cleared like desktops. Therefore, you must complete your work item by item. The Apple iOS is the most “fragmented” device here, although the Android does better.

clears DNS cache

We’ve talked about the server and DNS cache, especially about clearing the Windows 10 DNS cache, but we haven’t talked about clearing it for other platforms.

for those who don’t know, the DNS cache stores all recent attempts to connect to Internet, especially its domain name. In other words, it is the DNS lookup list that the computer uses to determine how to connect to the Internet.

is different from other caches on your device, but there may be some crossover. Before you begin to clear the DNS cache, you should be prepared for three things:

• administrator access to your computer or device.
• accesses a terminal, command prompt, or command line.
• uses the skills required for the command line interface (CLI), although you don’t necessarily need to know the exact command to use.

We have covered clearing your DNS cache on a per-device basis. We suggest you check that article for details.

clears the WordPress cache

speaking of WordPress, you can clear the cache in several places. The platform itself does not hold a cache. Instead, there are two touchpoints to consider:

• your managed service provider’s options, which can sometimes be found in WordPress.
• your dedicated cache plug-in.

depending on the host you choose, you will have an option in the dashboard, the plug-in installed in WordPress (server-side cache dedicated to the host), or both. We will discuss the problem in further detail.

in addition, you usually have a dedicated third-party plug-in to help cache your site, and you will find the option to clear it in the relevant settings or preferences screen.

how you access it depends on your plug-in (we’ll cover some options next). For example, WP Super Cache shows this option on both the toolbar and theSettings & gt;WP Super Cachepage:

uses the WP Super Cache remove cache button

for W3 Total Cache, you will once again find the desired option in the toolbar at the top of WordPress:

W3 Total Cache clear cache option

for most plug-ins, the takeout option to clear the cache will be in the toolbar (or tag). As for your host, you will usually find the option to clear the cache in two places: the WordPress dashboard (if plug-ins are involved) and your host control panel.

some hosts use plug-ins to add specific options to WordPress administrators to help WordPress users. In most cases, they act like third-party caching plug-ins. However, the best way (in other words, youKnow the method) will go to your managed dashboard and look for your caching options.

summary

website needs to be run quickly. The most efficient way to do this is through caching. This is a way to store data that is often pulled and pushed between servers. Once saved, the browser can call it instantly, making your site load faster and keeping you in the right place for SEO.

reliable hosts will have server-side caching and do everything they can to ensure that your site uses it in the best way. More importantly, a good plug-in will make your site run faster and ensure that caching helps in all aspects of your site.

caching is a simple technology for end users. For those who dig deeper, it’s worth spending a lot of time on, because your performance depends on it.