Caching & Optimization

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In Concrete CMS version 9, Caching and Optimization settings are essential for enhancing your website’s performance and ensuring a smooth user experience. Proper configuration of these settings can significantly reduce page load times and decrease server load.

Understanding Caching

Caching involves storing frequently accessed data temporarily so that future requests can be served faster. By enabling caching, Concrete CMS can deliver pre-built parts of your pages quickly, reducing the need to process the same information repeatedly.

Accessing Cache & Speed Settings

To configure caching and optimization settings:

  1. Log in to your Concrete CMS dashboard.
  2. Navigate to System & Settings.
  3. Under the Optimization section, click on Cache & Speed Settings.

Caching Options

Within the Cache & Speed Settings, you’ll find several options:

  • Block Cache: Caches individual blocks to improve rendering speed.
  • Theme CSS Cache: Stores compiled CSS from themes to reduce load times.
  • CSS and JavaScript Cache: Combines and minifies CSS and JavaScript files for faster delivery.
  • Overrides Cache: Caches paths to overridden components, reducing the need to check for these files on each request.
  • Full Page Caching: Creates static copies of entire pages to serve them quickly to users.

Configuring Full Page Caching

Full Page Caching can be particularly beneficial for pages that don’t change frequently. To configure:

  1. In the Full Page Caching section, select one of the following options:
    • Off: Disables full page caching.
    • On - If blocks allow it: Enables caching for pages where all blocks permit caching.
    • On - In all cases: Forces caching for all pages, regardless of individual block settings.
  2. Set the Expire Pages from Cache option to define when cached pages should be refreshed. Options include:
    • Only when manually removed or cache cleared.
    • Every certain number of minutes: Specify the interval in minutes.
    • Custom: Define a custom expiration strategy.

Clearing the Cache

After making changes to your site, it’s advisable to clear the cache to ensure that updates are reflected. To clear the cache:

  1. From the dashboard, go to System & Settings.
  2. Under Optimization, click on Clear Cache.
  3. Click the Clear Cache button to remove all cached data.

Best Practices

  • During Development: It’s recommended to disable caching to see changes immediately.
  • In Production: Enable appropriate caching options to enhance performance.
  • Dynamic Content: Be cautious when caching pages with dynamic content, as caching might serve outdated information.

By effectively managing caching and optimization settings, you can significantly improve your Concrete CMS site’s speed and reliability, providing a better experience for your users.