Caching
There are cached or stored pages in Google servers, the cache is shown as (cache:xyz.com) or (cache://play.com). The caching takes place when Google Bot visits the web page. To load a website more quickly browsers store images, pages, graphics, Java Scripts, and HTML more quickly. This process of storing by the web browser is termed caching. Usually, these are stored temporarily but the time of storage can be controlled. Not only web browsers but DNS Servers also store data to make retrieval faster or increase latency. Increased delay is due to difficulty in the resolution of the DNS Servers.
Browsers usually store data on the hard drive of the devices. Before we proceed further lets us know:
How do I clear my web cache?
Android:
1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome app.
2. At the top right, tap More.
3. Tap History Clear browsing data.
4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All Time.
5. Next to “Cookies and site data” and “Cached images and files,” check the boxes.
6. Tap Clear data.
The time to live of storage or TTL expires when the hard drive storage capacity is full. Clearing the cache restores the storage capacity. After clearance when the user calls for the website, all elements have to be loaded again and this could slow the website for the first time.
What Is Cached Data, and Should You Keep It or Clear It?
When you open a website or open an app takes a few seconds to load and if the time exceeds our patience we move on and this creates a high bounce rate for the website. This happens because the storage devices not having cached data.
Types of Cache.
1. Site cache
A site cache or page cache in Google stores website data the first time a webpage is loaded. Each time a user returns to your website, saved elements are quickly accessed and displayed to visitors.
This is a type of client-side caching, as a website owner, your only say is how long content remains in the cache.
If elements that do not change for a long time should extend the expiration date in Header <Cache-Control: max-age=public, max-age=31536000>
If elements that change regularly should have shorter expiration periods, they’re periodically refreshed. This is to prevent the display of outdated content to users even after you’ve published updates.
Static caching is ideal for websites loaded with static content. But sites rarely change, users will be able to continue loading your pages quickly while still seeing the latest version of your site.
On the other hand, sites with many dynamic features may benefit more from different types of caching.
Consider using a WordPress plugin for site caching. Use WP Super Cache and WP Rocket.
WP Super Cache activation.
In WP after plugins will automatically page caching will take place. You can then navigate to the plugin’s settings and configure them to suit your content.
Using ManageWP is a bonus since you can quickly clear and preload WP Rocket cache using our Code Snippet tool!
High-traffic sites: if your site receives a lot of traffic, a site cache can help reduce the server load and improve the site’s performance.
Dynamic sites: can benefit from caching as it can help to reduce the amount of processing required to generate each page.
2. Browser cache
A browser cache can contain HTML pages, CSS stylesheets, images, and other multimedia content. These elements are stored on your visitor’s computer and grouped with other files associated with your content.
Browser caching overlaps with site caching because they are both client-side systems. The primary difference is that the browser controls the cache rather than the end user. All browsers have a cache that flushes out old files without any need for user intervention.
The WP plugins mentioned earlier in the previous section can also be used to leverage browser caching. You can turn it on manually using the website .htaccess file. You’ll need to use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and an FTP client such as FileZilla to access your server.
Then, right-click on .htaccess and select View/Edit. This opens the file in a text editor such as Notepad. Copy and paste the following code into the file:
<IfModule mod_expires.c>
ExpiresActive On
# Images
ExpiresByType image/jpeg “access plus 1 year”
ExpiresByType image/gif “access plus 1 year”
ExpiresByType image/png “access plus 1 year”
ExpiresByType image/webp “access plus 1 year”
ExpiresByType image/svg+xml “access plus 1 year”
ExpiresByType image/x-icon “access plus 1 year”
# Video
ExpiresByType video/mp4 “access plus 1 year”
ExpiresByType video/mpeg “access plus 1 year”
# CSS, JavaScript
ExpiresByType text/css “access plus 1 month”
ExpiresByType text/javascript “access plus 1 month”
ExpiresByType application/javascript “access plus 1 month”
# Others
ExpiresByType application/pdf “access plus 1 month”
ExpiresByType application/x-shockwave-flash “access plus 1 month”
</IfModule>
You can update the expiration time as needed based on your needs. If you have more dynamic features than static elements, the expiration should be short to avoid serving old content to visitors.
When is it advisable to use Browser caching
Sites with static content that does not frequently change, such as an online brochure or portfolio, can benefit from browser caching as it can reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred over the network on each request.
Sites with considerable resources: sites with large resources, such as high-resolution images or video files, can benefit from browser caching as it can reduce the time needed to download these resources on subsequent visits.
For sites with a high number of returning visitors browser caching can help improve the site’s performance for these users as they will not need to download the same resources on each visit.
3. Server cache
Server cache is an umbrella term covering several different types of caching. This includes Content Delivery Network (CDN) caching, object caching, and opcode caching. Each store’s different content on your website’s server. This type of caching is administered by website owners without end-users’ input.
Managing Cache is important as it stores data locally and increases efficiency and download speed. This is because the access has been previously downloaded and it thus decreases data access time and reduces latency.
Server caching is one of the best methods for reducing server loads. It improves the performance and scalability of a website. When a request is made, the server checks its temporary storage for the necessary content before processing the request in full. If the requested content is available in the server cache, it will be returned to the browser right away. This enables your server to handle more traffic and return your web pages faster.
The methods used to set up server caching vary depending on the specific type of cache you want to implement. Cloudflare is a popular CDN for WordPress users. If you want to activate object caching, WordPress has a built-in system you can use.
For opcode caching, you’ll need a WordPress plugin such as WP Rocket. After installing and activating it, opcode caching should initiate automatically. You can update or purge the cache in the plugin’s settings.
4. Micro cache
This method stores content for very short periods. It generally saves static versions of dynamic elements for up to 10 seconds. As this is a type of site cache, it’s controlled by end-users with limited input from website owners.
Micro caching is not a common type of cache because of the short storage time. The sites that benefit from this form of caching also fit into a small profile. They’re typically high traffic and feature rapidly changing content, such as the constantly updating graphs on currency exchange and stock websites.