Have you made changes to your website? When you visit the page, you don’t see the changes you expected? Your browser is likely displaying an older (or cached) version of the page – that doesn’t contain the recent changes. Let’s go over some basics about caching.
What Is Caching?
When it comes to browsers and websites, caching stores website information in memory so that website visitors can access it quickly and easily the next visit. For example, when you visit a website for the first time, your browser will cache some of the files from that site, such as images; your browser doesn’t have to load those files again – it loads them from the cache. This process helps improve loading times because the browser doesn’t have to repeatedly fetch everything from the server.
Now that we’ve talked about some of the basics of caching, let’s talk about how it relates to WordPress websites.
When you make changes to your WordPress site, some changes do not reflect when you visit your website. The reason is the browser is loading a cached version of the page. For the changes you made to be visible, you need to clear the cache so that your browser can retrieve the most recent version of the page from the server.
How To Clear WordPress Cache
There are a few different ways to clear your WordPress cache, depending on which caching solution you use. Among the most popular caching plugins are WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, Comet Cache, and Cloudflare.
W3 Total Cache – If you’re using W3 Total Cache, clearing your WordPress cache is a simple matter of going to the Performance Dashboard page and clicking on the empty all caches button.
WP Super Cache – Clearing your WordPress cache with WP Super Cache is easy. First, you need to go to the WP Super Cache settings page and ensure that the caching mode has Expert settings. Once completed, go to the Contents tab and click on the Delete Cache button.
Comet Cache – If you’re using Comet Cache, you can clear your WordPress cache by navigating to the plugin’s Settings and clicking on the Clear Cache button.
WP Rocket – If you’re using WP Rocket, you can simply clear your WordPress cache by hovering over WP Rocket in the top black bar in WordPress and selecting Clear Cache.
Cloudflare – Cloudflare is a little different from the other caching solutions we’ve looked at so far. With Cloudflare, you don’t need to clear your WordPress cache; Cloudflare automatically clears its cache whenever changes get made to your WordPress site.
However, if you want to clear the Cloudflare cache right away, you can go to the Cache tab in your Cloudflare dashboard and click on the Purge Everything button.
How Is Clearing The Cache Beneficial?
There are a few benefits to clearing your WordPress cache regularly:
1. It helps keep your website up-to-date.
2. It can help improve your website’s performance.
3. It can help reduce the risk of errors on your website.
These factors are essential in providing a positive user experience, which is vital for any website owner who wants their site to succeed.
Will Changes Reflect For Others Who Visit The Site?
One of the most common questions people have about clearing their WordPress cache is whether or not the internet will reflect the changes they make when other people visit their website. Of course, the answer depends on which caching solution you’re using.
If you’re using a server-level caching solution like Varnish, the internet will reflect your website changes for visitors to your website as soon as you clear the cache.
On the other hand, if you’re using a client-side caching solution like Cloudflare, the internet will only reflect the changes you make after Cloudflare’s cache expires, typically around 24 hours.
How Often Should You Clear Your WordPress Cache?
The frequency with which you need to clear your WordPress cache will depend on how often you make changes to your website. For example, if you’re constantly making changes to your site, clear your cache more frequently to stay abreast of the most recent changes or updates.
On the other hand, if you only make occasional changes to your site, like a small business owner who only updates your website a few times a year, you won’t need to clear your cache as often.
Among the best things about WordPress is that it makes it easy to clear your cache and ensure that your website is always up-to-date. So whether you’re using a caching plugin or Cloudflare, keeping the freshest copy of your site online is always in your best interest.
If you need to improve your WordPress site, hiring qualified internet professionals at Interactive Palette is the way to go. Reach out today to begin the conversation.
