How to clear WordPress Cache

So, you have spent hours updating and modifying your website, only to notice no changes reflecting on the site! The constant clicking of the reload button hasn’t removed the old version?
No worries, it is mostly a cache problem.

Cache? How does this work? Why and how should I be clearing?
This article will answer all your questions on the ‘cache’ and how to clear the WordPress cache.

What is Cache?

Let us start with a simple analogy. It is New year’s eve, there is a huge demand for chocolate cake. The competition is brutal. The orders are proportional to your delivery speed. You notice this and decide to be ready. So, you bake a lot of cake beforehand and store them. This helps you to serve the next consumer right away!
That is how caching works! When a visitor arrives on your site for the first time, their caching system will store a cached version of your website. This will help in loading your site/page faster the next time they visit.
Now, back to our bakery analogy, one customer asks for some dry fruits in their cake. This means you have to bake a cake all over again. You might miss this tiny detail in the midst of serving the other customers. Similarly, the caching system might use the old version of your site updated site.

Let us move on to the technical bit of how WordPress cache works.

WordPress cache

When a user visits your site, a request is sent to your server to load your page. Next, the server pulls the required data and sends it as an HTML file to the user’s browser. The user’s browsers processes and converts the HTML file to display it as a webpage.
If the user visits the same site, this process would have to be repeated again. Since this takes more time and uses more server resources, a cache is used. Caching system stores the site data as an HTML file in the browser.
This cached copy is processed and displayed the next time a user visits your site.

There are two types of WordPress caching;

• Client-side caching – aka browser caching, the static HTML files are stored on the user’s computer. This copy is loaded from the user’s computer when he visits the site.
• Server-side caching – this caching is used for a large website with multiple databases. The static pages are stored in the website server’s RAM or hard disk.

Okay, the caching system seems like a good idea. Now we will learn why it needs to be cleared.

Why do you need to clear WordPress cache?

In general situations, the caching system will delete the outdated cached versions of your site when you make changes in your content.
Sometimes, your caching system might not realize these changes and still display the old versions of your site. This discord between the updates and cached versions might lead your site to breakdown.

When should you be on lookout?

• When updating themes or started using plugins for image compression

• Changes in your content and website design element

• When you have shifted to a new host
  

And the solution? Clear the Cache-kren!
This guide will help you clear different types of Cache

Steps for Clearing Browser cache

We have picked the top two browsers – Google Chrome and Firefox.
Google chrome

• Settings -> More Tools -> Clear Browsing data

• Settings -> settings -> Advanced -> Clear Browsing data -> Select the cached data to clear -> clear data
  

Firefox

• Menu button -> Options -> Privacy and Security -> Cookies and Site data -> Clear data -> Check the box next to Cached web content

Clearing your server cache

Your web hosting server would have a cached copy of your site. Different WordPress hosts have different ways to clear your Cache. To clean your server cache, you might have to contact your WordPress Host or use their Support sections.

Clearing your WordPress website cache

A caching plugin on your WordPress website essentially loads your site faster. But the cached content can grow over time. If you are using a plugin provided by your web host, then you will have to follow the necessary procedure.
In case of an external plugin, for example, WP Super Cache Plugin, follow these steps;
WP Admin Dashboard à WP Super cache à WP Super Cache Settings page à Delete cache

Beware – the aftermath of clearing cache includes logging out of most of your sites with an account and changes in page loading speeds.

Now that we know all about Cache and Cache clearing, do be cautious when dealing with cache on WordPress. Before clearing anything, it is advised to have your site backed up. Use popular WordPress plugins to manage your website performance and have a smooth experience.

When in doubt, delete it!

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