In this article series, we will review the most common cache plugin issues and how Swift Performance AI solves them easily and automatically. In the first part, we will examine the problems that can arise with cache management.
Poor Cache Management
One of the most frequent cache management issues occurs when a cache plugin fails to clear the cache when necessary. This often happens with various page builders because most cache plugins clear the cache when the save_post action is called. However, this doesn’t always happen with some page builders.
Another problem can arise when a plugin or theme is updated and the frontend changes, but the cache isn’t cleared. Similar issues can occur with certain plugin operations, such as stock changes in a WooCommerce product, where clearing the cache is necessary.
A common issue is when the homepage includes embedded posts (e.g., recent posts or a product carousel). When a new post is published or a product is modified, the cache for the homepage (or other pages containing posts) isn’t automatically cleared.
However, it’s also not ideal to clear the cache every time a plugin or theme is updated or stock changes occur, as this often results in unnecessary cache clearing. This not only wastes resources but also makes the site slower for visitors until the cache is regenerated.
Another frequent issue is that many plugin and theme developers don’t properly use WordPress nonces, causing them to expire regularly on cached pages. This can prevent forms from being submitted or users from logging in. Most cache plugins solve this by clears the cache every 12 hours, whether needed or not, which again slows down the site and wastes server resources.
Additionally, most other cache plugins prebuild the cache either by going through the sitemap or by arranging pages in a simple list. This can cause significant slowdowns for popular pages further down the list. For example, imagine a site with 1000 products and the entire cache is cleared.
PPC ads are running for the 10 newest products, so many visitors are viewing these pages. However, a traditional cache plugin will cache the previous 1000 pages first, making these pages slower for hours, which can be costly and reduce ad performance.
Swift Performance AI Uses Intelligent Cache Management
Swift Performance AI uses intelligent, multi-stage cache management to eliminate these issues. When a full cache clear is necessary, it first invalidates the cache. This means that while Swift regenerates the cache, visitors are still served from the old cache, ensuring the site remains fast.
The same approach applies to expiring nonces. Swift won’t needlessly re-optimize all pages every 12 hours. Instead, it checks for changes and only re-optimizes if necessary.
Additionally, Swift AI uses an intelligent order to cache the most popular pages first, regardless of post type or post date, leaving less important pages (e.g., Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions) for last. This ensures that the most important pages always load quickly.
An essential part of intelligent cache management is that Swift AI recognizes if a page contains embedded posts and can clear the relevant archive pages or homepage if these posts are modified, without needing to manually specify these rules.
In summary, Swift Performance AI has been developed to address the cache management issues that traditional cache plugins cannot handle effectively. See how Swift Performance AI works.
