Turbo Cache

Overview

Turbo Cache is a full-page caching service that stores complete HTML pages so they can be served without executing PHP or querying the database. It supports three storage backends: file (default), Redis, and Memcached. Cached pages are served with an X-RakuWP-Cache: HIT header for easy verification.

Cache Backends

Getting Started

1. Go to RakuWP > Services in your WordPress admin and enable Turbo Cache.
2. Navigate to RakuWP > Turbo Cache to configure the settings.
3. The default file backend works out of the box. For Redis or Memcached, ensure the PHP extension is installed and the server is running.

Configuration

• TTL (Time to Live): How long cached pages remain valid. Default is 24 hours (86400 seconds). Set to 0 for no expiration (manual purge only).
• Cache 404 pages: When enabled, 404 error pages are also cached to reduce server load from bots and broken links.
• URL exclusions: Add URL patterns to exclude specific pages from caching (e.g., /my-account/*).

What Gets Cached

Turbo Cache caches GET requests for anonymous visitors. The following are automatically excluded:

• Logged-in users (WordPress login cookie detected)
• POST requests
• Pages with query strings (except UTM parameters)
• WordPress maintenance mode
• WooCommerce cart/checkout pages (cart cookies detected)

Cache Invalidation

The cache is automatically cleared when content changes:

• Post saved or published: Clears the specific post URL and the homepage.
• Comment added or moderated: Clears the post the comment belongs to.
• Theme switched: Full cache purge.
• Menu updated: Full cache purge (menus affect all pages).

Admin Bar Purge

When Turbo Cache is active, a Purge Page Cache button appears in the WordPress admin bar while viewing any frontend page. Click it to instantly clear the cache for that specific URL.

Verifying Cache Status

Check the response headers in your browser's developer tools:

• X-RakuWP-Cache: HIT: Page was served from cache.
• X-RakuWP-Cache: MISS: Page was generated fresh and is now cached for subsequent requests.

Troubleshooting

• Pages always show MISS: Ensure you're not logged in (logged-in users bypass cache). Also check that no other caching plugin is active — conflicts can prevent Turbo Cache from storing pages.
• Stale content after editing: Cache should auto-invalidate on save. If it doesn't, try a manual purge from the admin bar or clear all cache from the settings page.
• Redis/Memcached not working: Verify the PHP extension is installed (php -m | grep redis) and the server is running. Check connection settings in your wp-config.php if using non-default host/port.