How to disable caching within your CMS software

The below article covers clearing your cache in WordPress and Joomla CMS.

System caching is primarily effective when the database and the content of your CMS application are both located on a single server (Normally found on a VPS or dedicated server). Using caching in the shared environment can have an adverse effect in that it slows the performance of the site rather than speeding it up.

This guide will cover the two most popular CMS systems Joomla and WordPress, if you use a different CMS system please refer to the support guides for your chosen provider.

Disabling caching in Joomla

In order to increase the performance of your Joomla website please ensure the following caching options are switched off. Further details of this can be found on the Joomla website: http://docs.joomla.org/Cache

  • Page CachingConfiguration: Built-in Plugin (Extensions -> Plugin Manager -> System – Cache)Caches: each whole page of your site
  • View CachingConfiguration: Global Config->CacheCaches: each view of a component
  • Module CachingConfiguration: Global Config->CacheCaches: each module (individually customized via each module’s Advanced Parameters)

Disabling caching in WordPress

In order to improve site performance for your WordPress driven site, please ensure that all caching plugins are disabled on your site. You can disable the plugins by logging into the WordPress admin dashboard for your site and disable any caching plugins found under the plugins menu.

The 2 most popular caching plugins used within WordPress are:

  • WP-super-cache plugin.
  • W3-total-cache.