In 1965, British scientist Maurice Wilkes introduced memory caching and called it slave memory or dynamic storage. A cache, commonly called cash, is hardware or software that stores data in a computing environment.
Imagine you need to drive to a destination you have never visited. S, what do you do? Well, you ask for directions many times as you reach your destination. But next time you need to go to the same place, you don’t need to ask around for directions and reach your destination without losing ample time.
This scenario illustrates how cache works; by storing learned data somewhere for faster access.
Being a WooCommerce platform owner, you can also benefit from this optimization. In this article, we provide you with a WooCommerce caching guide, but first, we let you know how caching can help you in an eCommerce environment.
Advantages of Caching in an eCommerce Platform
It is simple to understand through an example.
When a visitor at your eCommerce store makes any request, let’s assume it’s a request for a particular page; after that request, the web server needs to figure out what your visitor wants, and after processing, that page is opened for your visitor.
That’s where caching comes in; your web server keeps a copy of that request to figure out processing, and the next time when any visitor requests the same page, the processing part is not required, and the page is delivered to the visitor in an optimized time.
Why You Need Caching in a WooCommerce Platform
Ecommerce is volatile; you encounter many impatient visitors who cannot tolerate a millisecond delay at your eCommerce platform and fail to convert.
Caching helps you store a static HTML page of your website temporarily. Whenever that page is requested next time, the site uptime is reduced because most information is already on the server.
It makes sense to have caching optimization in your WooCommerce platform. Once uploaded, most of your pages and products did not go through any major changes, and it is beneficial to keep cached copies of them for quick visitor request retrieval.
Your post and pages may contain multiple images and graphics, which take time to load; caching significantly reduces page upload time to keep your visitor engaged for conversions.
Optimized caching can improve your WooCommerce platform in the following aspects.
- Improved SEO due to less time taking in page loading and navigation results in high performance. One of Google’s criteria for rankings is the speed of your platform.
- Increase conversions and revenue because a millisecond delay can cost your WooCommerce platform millions.
- More satisfied customers because they don’t have to wait for the page to load and navigate.
Types of Caching
There are two major types of WordPress caching
Serverside Caching
This is where content caching takes place on your website server.
Clientside Caching
This is where content is cached on the client’s computer
Caching can be further classified into following
- Page caching
- Browser caching
- Data caching
- Opcode caching
- CDN caching
Page Caching
You can create a static copy of your page for quick visitor retrieval. This results in faster delivery of that copy to visitors, takes less time to download, and requires fewer requests. There is no technical know-how required for this caching.
Browser Caching
You can cache the whole content of your website with this type of caching. You can cache your visitor browser, which lets you know how many pages your visitors visit. This also helps visitors to load the website faster.
Data Caching
Since WordPress is data-empowered CMS. It is heavily dependent on data retrieval. You can optimize that process by speeding up page loading by employing database caching. This enhances your user experience with more happy customers.
Opcode Caching
Your WordPress WooCommerce platform is built on PHP codes. PHP is compiled to build a page or request whenever a visitor requests a page. Opcode caching keeps copies of these compiled PHP codes to optimize your store performance.
CDN Caching
Content delivery network (CDN) caching deals with servers available globally to store static pages, files, images, and posts. This caching enables you to distribute a static copy of your site to the global network. CDN caching helps you analyze the location of the visitor server and cached copy of it for faster future retrieval.
Considering all the above factors, you must optimize your WooCommerce platform. And for this, WooCommerce caching plugins can solve the problem.
How to Choose a WooCommerce Caching Plugin
Choosing the right caching plugin is tedious since many choices are available. But before going into plugin selection, we need to establish criteria for their selection. You need to look into a few things before making any selection.
- Simplicity
- Flexibility
- Support
- Pricing
Simplicity
The plugin should be easy and simple to use. You need plugins to solve problems, not to create them. So ease of use is your first concern and should not require coding and complex integration.
There are plugins available that offer one-click configuration. If you are no tech wizard, you can install these plugins and activate and use default settings. You can take your time to configure them according to your needs.
After activating the caching plugin, you may encounter glitches in your WooCommerce platform. This may happen when a plugin is cluttered with scripts and other assets, so choose plugins that exclude scripts and styles from caching. This will help you to avoid any failure of your eCommerce platform.
Flexibility
Ensure the WooCommerce caching plugin allows you to exclude posts and pages from being cached because you need to exclude your dynamic pages like shopping cart and checkouts.
Users can see each other’s account details if they are cached; you don’t want this to happen. It is logical to choose those plugins that allow you to exclude pages.
Support
There is always a chance that you may encounter glitches with the WooCommerce caching plugin and your WooCommerce platform, and for this, you need to ensure that the developer offers solid after-sales services. And if these services are there for a certain time or trial period, be sure to test the plugin within the time the vendor gives.
Pricing
Many caches are free to use, but since caching is a severe matter for your platform, you cannot afford to have fewer features and less support. There are three types of WooCommerce caching plugin plans available
- The free plan offers limited features for free.
- Plugins with a free plan for limited features, which you can upgrade to get all features.
- Plugins that offer only paid plan
Integration
The plugin you choose must offer smooth integration with your WooCommerce platform. Many top-of-the-line plugins offer built-in integration with WooCommerce.
The plugin should also have integration support for the WooCommerce membership plugin to exclude dynamic pages from being cached.
Now that we have discussed caching and why it is important for your eCommerce store, let’s move on to a few novel WooCommerce caching plugins.
Best WooCommerce Caching Plugins
1. WP Rocket
WP Rocket is the answer if you are looking for an ultimate and premium solution for your WooCommerce platform.
WP is simple to use; you can install it with a few clicks, and with its user-friendly user interface, you can start using it immediately and with all the features it offers. This plugin makes your platform run exceedingly fast, which adds to the performance of your WooCommerce platform.
Features
- Offers page caching, which makes your website load faster and assures visitor compliance.
- Cache preloading enables your visitors to enjoy cached content with speed with automatic cache loading.
- Offers compression of web pages in servers and decompresses them in the browser, helping reduce file size.
- Browser caching enables you to store the frequently used resources of your store.
- Offers smooth integration with multiple themes and WooCommerce.
- WP Rocket costs $199 for unlimited websites.
2. Comet Cache
Comet Cache is a well-known resolve for all cache solutions. It offers free and paid plans catering to businesses of any size.
This WooCommerce caching plugin offers almost all the features of its compatriots. Still, it stands out amongst them with its comprehensive documentation, which flourishes you with many links and FAQs to the WooCommerce caching guide.
You can explore a comprehensive blog on the Comet Cache website; to help you to take the maximum out of this plugin. You can always upgrade to the paid version, which automates virtually everything you need with caching.
Features
- Easy to set up in just two minutes.
- Offers caching of posts, pages, categories, and tags.
- It automates cache clearance of nonessentials item, which takes the load off your eCommerce platform.
- Offers client-side browser caching for high performance.
- You can automate cache expiration time for a cache file to optimize your E-store.
- Offers caching and exclusion features
- Comet Cache costs you $139.
3. W3 Total Cache
As part of the WordPress plugins directory, this plugin offers seamless integration with WooCommerce. It is free; you only need to download and install it and get benefits.
W3 offers integration with CDN and works smoothly with responsive sites and on desktops. It is friendly with sites having SSL certification and offers excellent performance in terms of speed. W3 costs you nothing; the free version already has all the features.
Features
- It is free and provides all the needed features to address your caching needs.
- Gives you confidence with a huge user base experience and positive reviews.
- Compatible with all hosting options
- Allows CDN integration for viewing image optimization.
- Compression of data option is provided along with data caching.
- Offers support for object caching.
4. WP Super Cache
WP Super Cache is a popular WooCommerce caching plugin that offers smooth integration with WooCommerce. It is free and built on WordPress, making it a logical choice for running a WooCommerce platform.
WP Total Cache works with simple static HTML files instead of heavy PHP scripts. It offers three operating modes according to your needs and abilities
- WP mode caching – This mode caters to the user with basic needs and capabilities.
- Simple mode – Offers advanced features but keeps them simple to apply.
- Expert mode – This mode offers advanced features which enable you to super cache your files and posts by modifying htaccess files. Expert mode opens doors for developers to go beyond the simple mode.
Features
- Enables you to flush cached files with a single click.
- Offers garbage collection features. You can set a cache timeout and automate the system to clear cached-out files accordingly.
- Saves up to 80% bandwidth via compression, feed optimization, and HTTP compression.
- Offers database, browser, and site caching.
- It is a free plugin from Automatics and offers updates without any charges.
- WP Super Cache is integrated with CDN setup, which optimizes file distribution.
- Offers cache rebuilding feature, helpful in regenerating older cached pages and posts.
5. Hyper Cache
This is another high-performance WooCommerce caching plugin that relentlessly performs caching for high-end complex platforms and basic eCommerce stores.
Hyper Cache runs on PHP, so it’s simple to use and requires no fancy integration, making it a logical choice for any platform built on WordPress. Hyper Cache accommodates caching in all digital devices, including mobiles and tablets.
It is an open-source plugin, so shed no sweat on your funds which you can use for other concerns of your WooCommerce platform.
Features
- This plugin is free, with all features available upon download and installation, and is also upgraded for free.
- Caters caching in a mobile-friendly environment.
- Offers CDN support.
- Enables cached pages to visitors willing to comment on your blog.
- It provides compression even for pages that are not being cached.
- Syncs with both mobile and desktop themes.
Conclusion
In this article, we try to give you a WooCommerce caching guide, discuss all caching types, and explain why you need a WooCommerce caching plugin. Caching can help you optimize your website, reduce loading speed, and keep your customers happy, which are crucial for increasing sales.
Hope this article helped you better understand caching and choose the right caching plugin. GOOD LUCK!
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