sometimes I feel like I’m constantly battling with website caching.

It’s like this ongoing game of tag with my clients and team members where they’re always asking me to “refresh their browser” just to see the changes I’ve made.

And the truth is sometimes a simple refresh doesn’t even cut it.

I end up into the depths of WordPress cache clearing just to get things working.

But let’s be honest understanding how cache works is crucial for anyone working with WordPress especially if you want to keep those clients happy!

Table of Contents

Understanding the Cache

Think of it like this: you’ve got a beautiful website filled with all sorts of juicy content images and even those fancy CSS styles.

Now every time someone requests to see your site your server needs to gather all those elements and put them together right? It’s a lot of work and it can slow things down.

That’s where caching comes in.

It’s basically a shortcut for your server.

Instead of always doing that heavy lifting it keeps a copy of your website’s elements (like HTML CSS and images) in a special temporary storage space like a cache.

So the next time someone asks for your website your server can just grab those elements from the cache and serve them up quickly.

Think of it like having a pre-prepared meal ready to go!

The Different Types of Cache

There are three main players in this caching game each with their own role:

Browser Cache: This is the first line of defense acting as a temporary storage space right on your user’s computer. When they visit your website their browser might store certain elements like images stylesheets and scripts. Next time they visit they can load those elements super fast from their local storage. This is a quick and efficient way to boost performance especially for returning visitors.
Server Cache: This is where things get a bit more technical. Your server uses a special system to store a copy of your website including everything from the HTML to the images. It’s like a snapshot of your site ready to be delivered quickly. This can really speed up loading times especially if your site is getting a lot of traffic.
CDN Cache: This is a big one especially for websites that need to reach people around the world. Imagine you’re a global company with users in Europe Asia and the Americas. A CDN (Content Delivery Network) spreads your website’s content across different servers in different locations. So when a user from Japan requests your website they get served a copy from a server close to them instead of having to travel all the way to your main server. This is lightning-fast but it also requires a bit more setup.

When to Clear Your Cache

While caching is amazing for performance there are times when it’s a bit of a nuisance.

Here’s when you might need to clear your cache and tell your server to start fresh:

New Content: You’ve just added a new blog post updated a product page or even just changed a few words on your website. But when you visit your site you see the old version. That’s because the cache is still holding onto that old content. You’ll need to clear the cache to make sure those new changes are visible to everyone.
Updates and Plugins: You just installed a new plugin updated WordPress or made some major changes to your theme. These changes can sometimes cause conflicts with the cached version of your site. Clear the cache after each update or plugin installation to avoid any unexpected issues.
Bug Fixes: You’ve been working on a website issue maybe a broken link or a styling problem. You’ve fixed the issue but it still shows up on your site. The cache is likely to blame as it’s holding onto that old buggy version. Clearing the cache is the solution to see those bug fixes in action.

Clearing the Cache – The Different Methods

The way you clear the cache depends on how your website is set up.

It’s like having different tools for different tasks:

Using a Caching Plugin

If you’re using a caching plugin the good news is that they usually have a built-in feature to clear the cache.

It’s often a simple button or a menu option within the plugin’s settings.

Just click wait a few seconds and voila! Your cache is cleared.

Some popular caching plugins are:

WP Super Cache: This free plugin is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It can significantly speed up your website by creating static HTML versions of your pages.
W3 Total Cache: This is another powerful and popular option offering a comprehensive range of features to optimize your website. It includes caching for pages posts feeds and even object caching.
Cache Enabler: This plugin is super lightweight and focuses on providing fast page load times. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a minimal-impact caching solution.

Managed WordPress Hosting

If you’re using a managed WordPress hosting service like Pressable (shameless plug I know!) you can usually clear the cache through your hosting dashboard.

The interface will likely have a dedicated section for cache management making it super easy.

Pressable’s Approach to Caching

At Pressable we offer three types of caching to make your life easier:

Page Cache: This is the core caching mechanism creating static HTML versions of your pages. It’s incredibly efficient and speeds up delivery to your visitors. It’s basically like having a pre-built website ready to go whenever someone asks for it.
Object Cache: This stores frequently used data like database queries so it’s readily available when needed. It’s a bit like having a well-organized library where you can easily find the information you need.
CDN Cache: We also use a global CDN to speed up delivery to your visitors around the world. This is especially important if you have a website that attracts users from different parts of the globe.

Managing Cache on Pressable

Pressable offers two ways to manage your cache both simple and convenient:

Pressable Dashboard: You can clear the cache with just a few clicks directly from your Pressable dashboard. It’s like having a remote control for your website’s cache.
Pressable Cache Management Plugin: If you prefer to manage your cache from within WordPress Pressable’s plugin allows you to do that. You can easily purge the cache update settings and even schedule cache purges for specific times.

Beyond the Basics

Remember caching is just one part of the puzzle when it comes to website optimization.

While it’s crucial for performance you also want to make sure your website is well-structured optimized for images and even using the right plugins.

But that’s a story for another blog post!

So keep on caching keep on optimizing and keep those websites running smoothly.

And don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

We’re always here to help!

How to Clear Cache in WordPress ⚠️