WordPress Performance Optimisation Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is WordPress performance optimization?
Performance optimization improves a WordPress site’s speed, user experience, and SEO.
Faster sites enhance user satisfaction, reduce bounce rates, and improve search engine rankings (e.g., Google PageSpeed). Freelancers optimize sites to meet client expectations, while enterprise architects ensure high performance for large-scale, high-traffic systems.
Why is site speed important for WordPress?
Site speed improves user experience, SEO rankings, and conversion rates.
Studies show a 1-second delay can reduce conversions by 7%. Freelancers optimize speed to boost client sales, while enterprise architects prioritize it for scalability and reliability in enterprise environments.
What is caching in WordPress?
Caching stores pre-rendered pages or data to reduce server load and speed up delivery.
Caching serves static HTML instead of generating pages dynamically. Freelancers use caching plugins for clients, while enterprise architects implement server-level caching for high-traffic sites.
What is a caching plugin?
Answer: A caching plugin generates and serves static versions of WordPress pages.
Plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache create cached files to reduce PHP processing. Freelancers configure them for client sites, while enterprise architects integrate them with advanced caching systems like Varnish.
What is browser caching?
Browser caching stores static assets (e.g., CSS, images) locally on a user’s device.
Enabled via .htaccess or plugins, it reduces repeat requests. Freelancers set it up for faster load times, while enterprise architects optimize cache headers for global user bases.
What is the role of a Content Delivery Network (CDN)?
A CDN serves static assets from servers close to the user, reducing latency.
Services like Cloudflare or Akamai distribute assets globally. Freelancers enable CDNs for client sites, while enterprise architects use CDNs for scalable, high-performance content delivery.
How does WP Rocket improve WordPress performance?
WP Rocket enables caching, minification, and lazy loading to boost site speed.
It simplifies optimization with features like page caching and file compression. Freelancers use it for quick client wins, while enterprise architects pair it with server-side solutions for large systems.
What is database optimization in WordPress?
Database optimization removes unused data and optimizes tables for faster queries.
Tools like WP-Optimize clean transients, spam comments, and optimize tables. Freelancers perform it for clients, while enterprise architects automate it for large-scale databases.
What are transients in WordPress?
Transients are temporary data stored in the database to cache query results.
Managed via set_transient() and get_transient(), they reduce database load. Freelancers use transients for performance, while enterprise architects optimize their lifecycle in high-traffic systems.
What is image optimization in WordPress?
Image optimization reduces file sizes without sacrificing quality.
Plugins like Smush or ShortPixel compress images and use formats like WebP. Freelancers optimize images for client sites, while enterprise architects ensure scalable image delivery via CDNs.
What is lazy loading?
Lazy loading delays loading of images or videos until they’re visible in the viewport.
Enabled via plugins or native WordPress features, it reduces initial page load time. Freelancers implement it for faster sites, while enterprise architects use it for efficient resource management.
What is minification in WordPress?
Minification removes unnecessary characters from CSS, JS, and HTML files.
Plugins like Autoptimize minify files to reduce size. Freelancers use it for faster load times, while enterprise architects combine it with bundling for optimized asset delivery.
What is concatenation in WordPress?
Concatenation combines multiple CSS or JS files into one to reduce HTTP requests.
Plugins like WP Rocket perform concatenation. Freelancers enable it for client performance, while enterprise architects ensure it doesn’t break complex dependencies.
What is GZIP compression?
GZIP compression reduces file sizes before sending them to the browser.
Enabled via .htaccess or server settings, it speeds up asset delivery. Freelancers configure it for clients, while enterprise architects implement it for high-traffic environments.
What is the WP_Cache class?
WP_Cache is a WordPress class for managing in-memory caching.
Used via wp_cache_set() and wp_cache_get(), it caches data in memory. Freelancers use it in plugins, while enterprise architects integrate it with Memcached or Redis for scalability.
What is object caching?
Object caching stores database query results in memory for faster access.
Tools like Memcached or Redis cache queries. Freelancers enable it for client sites, while enterprise architects use it for high-performance, database-heavy systems.
What is a reverse proxy cache?
A reverse proxy cache stores full pages at the server level to reduce processing.
Tools like Varnish cache entire pages. Freelancers may recommend it for clients, while enterprise architects implement it for large-scale, high-traffic WordPress sites.
How does hosting affect WordPress performance?
Fast hosting with SSDs, PHP 8+, and optimized servers improves site speed.
Providers like SiteGround or Kinsta offer WordPress-specific optimizations. Freelancers choose hosting for clients, while enterprise architects select scalable hosting for enterprise needs.
What is the heartbeat API in WordPress?
The Heartbeat API periodically sends AJAX requests for real-time updates.
It powers autosaves and admin notifications but can slow sites. Freelancers limit it via plugins, while enterprise architects control it for performance in multi-user environments.
How do you disable the WordPress Heartbeat API?
Use wp_deregister_script(‘heartbeat’) or a plugin like Heartbeat Control.
Disabling or limiting Heartbeat reduces server load. Freelancers configure it for clients, while enterprise architects fine-tune it for high-traffic dashboards.
What is query optimization in WordPress?
Query optimization reduces database queries for faster page loads.
Using WP_Query efficiently or caching results improves performance. Freelancers optimize queries in themes/plugins, while enterprise architects ensure minimal queries for large datasets.
What is the wp_optimize plugin?
WP-Optimize cleans the database, compresses images, and enables caching.
It removes transients, optimizes tables, and improves speed. Freelancers use it for client maintenance, while enterprise architects automate it for large-scale site management.
What is defer parsing of JavaScript?
Defer parsing delays JavaScript execution until the page loads.
Enabled via plugins or defer attributes, it prioritizes HTML rendering. Freelancers implement it for faster sites, while enterprise architects use it for optimized user experiences.
What is critical CSS in WordPress?
Critical CSS is the minimal CSS needed to render above-the-fold content.
Generated by plugins like WP Rocket, it speeds up initial page display. Freelancers apply it for client sites, while enterprise architects integrate it for high-performance rendering.
