Clearing browser history is a term that countless internet users have heard and have done. Especially when trying to delete all the kitty video evidence that fills the browser history of your work computer, just about every computer user will delete their browser history once a month. Many have probably noticed during their history file deletion that the option to “clear cache” is also available.
Not many people, however, know what this entails. To start, it is crucial to understand what cache means. Cache to put in your browser’s saved version of a page. This is done because, more often than not, saved versions of websites tend to load faster as opposed to having to load the actual page. Nobody, after all, has the patience to wait for a slow site to finish loading.
Now that you get what a cache means, it is time to understand why clearing a cache is just as important as deleting your internet history. The quickest way to clear the cache on most computer browsers is to hold down at the same time the keys Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
The same, however, cannot be used when clearing the cache on WordPress. Clearing cache on WP is done primarily by site admins who are trying to make changes on their page. Anyone who has ever worked on WordPress will have noticed that there are instances when changes on a page do not seem to stick. This is because the WP cache is in place, thus making any alterations difficult for anyone to see. There are several options to date that have proven to be useful for this situation.
Option 1. Cache Clearing on WordPress Super Cache
Utilized by over one million WordPress users across the globe, WordPress Super Cache is one of the best plugins for caching. Here is how to use it.
- Log into your WordPress
- On your dashboard, go to the plugins and search for WordPress Super Cache and click “download.”
- Once installed, you should be able to see the button when you go back to your dashboard and navigate to the “Settings” panel.
- Upon clicking on the option, it should bring up the “Delete Cache” button, which can be found under the Delete Cached pages.
- And just like that, you have successfully deleted your WP cache.
Options 2. W3 Total Cache Clearing Option
Recognized for its customization functions and a variety of useful settings, W3 Total Cache is favored by top blogs, including Mashable. If a popular site favors it, there is something about this plugin that is worth trying out at the very least.
- Head over to your WordPress account and log into the admin dashboard.
- If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can search for W3 Total Cache
- Download or install the plugin.
- Once you have it downloaded, go to “Performance” followed by the “Dashboard” button.
- At the topmost portion, you should find an option “Empty all caches” select this.
- Your WordPress caches are cleared.
Option 3. Using WP Fastest Cache
Another much-loved plugin, WP Fastest Cache, is amongst the list of tools favored by a lot of WP users.
- Just as with the other plugin tutorials, begin by logging onto your admin account.
- If you haven’t downloaded the plugin, then you can start with that first. If you already have it but have yet to take it out or spin, then from the dashboard, go to the WP Fastest Cache settings.
- Locate the option “Delete Cache” and then click on that button.
- Your cache has been cleared.
Option 4. Clearing Browser Cache
If, for instance, you are noticing, however, that the changes are still not showing up even after you have implemented plugins on your WP account, then perhaps it calls for the need to clear your browsing data. As discussed, most browsers will respond to the Ctrl + Shift + Delete command to err on the safe side users may also execute a few moves to clear out a specific browser’s cache. Here is a quick list of the most commonly used browsers and their accompanying clearing steps.
Chrome — Go to Settings > More Tools > Clear Browsing Data
Edge — Look for Options > Settings > Clear Browsing Data
Firefox — Start with Menu > Options > Advanced Network > Cache Web Content > Clear Now
Safari — Locate Options tab > Reset Safari > Remove All Website Data
Option 5. WPEngine for Clearing Cache
Aside from plugins and browser cleaning, WordPress hosting solutions typically provide their caching tool. This reduces the need for users to have to download and install a plugin. This built-in feature is easy to use. A perfect example of a hosting provider with this free feature is WPEngine.
- The WPEngine will be visible in the menu panel of the Admin page.
- Click on the button
- Locate the option “General” under the settings portion.
- Select the “Purge all caches” option
- WPEngine will proceed to clear up caches on your WordPress page or website.
Option 6. Use a Cache Command in WordPress
Other than executing a cache command on your browser, you can also try to do the same by accessing your WordPress command line. Doing so effectively flushes the cache that can be found embedded in our database.
- # Flush cache.
- $ wp cache flush
- Success: The cache was flushed
The command ascertains that content elements or design fragments that have been cached as objects will then get refreshed to its most recent and correct state.
Heres a nice guide by Kinsta
In Conclusion
Caching is a necessary and vital part of making WordPress sites function correctly. There are, however, instances when it is just as necessary to clear up cached data to provide up to date content that site visitors can view. All six options provided above offer users with various alternatives to ensure WordPress sites are appropriately cleared. The inclusion of plugins effectively speeds up the clearing process and is perfect for those who want a press of the button solution to get the job done. Bear in mind, however, that outdated plugins can bog down your site just as much as the caches can. Avoid the inconvenience by always making sure your cache is clear, and your plugins are current versions.
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