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If you’re managing WordPress sites, understanding how to clear the cache is crucial for ensuring that your changes are visible immediately. Relying solely on browser refreshes often falls short, making cache purging an essential skill.
Caching is a critical technique used to enhance website performance by storing temporary copies of static site elements. This process reduces server load and speeds up page rendering. In the WordPress ecosystem, three primary cache types exist: browser cache, server cache, and CDN cache. Each plays a distinct role in delivering content efficiently.
Understanding Caching in WordPress
The browser cache stores files on a visitor’s local machine, allowing faster page loads upon revisits. Performing a hard refresh in a browser can clear this local cache, forcing an update.
Server cache minimizes server requests by serving cached copies of site components, such as stylesheets, instead of fetching them repeatedly. CDN caching, meanwhile, distributes website content across global data centers, serving content from the nearest location to the user to enhance speed.
While server and CDN caches typically refresh on a schedule, there are instances where immediate clearing is necessary. Website updates, design modifications, and plugin changes are common triggers for cache purging. These actions ensure that changes reflect accurately and promptly on live sites.
Clearing Cache on Pressable Hosting
For those using managed WordPress hosting services like Pressable.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pressable, cache management becomes straightforward. Pressable’s platform offers several caching mechanisms, including page and query caching, static asset caching via a global CDN, and OPCache for PHP files.
Pressable’s page and query caching leverage WordPress’ Object Cache, which is enabled by default. Users can exclude specific pages from this cache if necessary. The CDN, part of Pressable’s Edge Cache, automatically handles a wide range of file types with a default cache duration of seven days. When updates to static assets occur, purging the CDN cache ensures immediate changes are displayed.
OPCache, focused on PHP scripts, precompiles bytecode to reduce server load for subsequent requests. Users can manage all these caches seamlessly through either the Pressable dashboard or the Pressable Cache Management Plugin.
Managing Cache with Pressable Tools
To clear the cache using the Pressable dashboard, select the relevant site and navigate to the Performance section. Here, you can purge the Edge Cache or flush the Object Cache as needed.
The Pressable Cache Management Plugin offers another layer of convenience. By installing this plugin from GitHub, users can manage Batcache and flush Object Cache directly within the WordPress admin panel, streamlining the process significantly.
What To Do
- Developers: Regularly clear caches after deploying changes to ensure they reflect on live sites.
- Site Operators: Use Pressable’s tools to handle cache purges when updating design or content.
- Agency Owners: Educate team members about the importance of cache management in site maintenance.
