Simple Page Cache

Simple Page Cache is an extremely simple, super-fast page cache for WordPress. The plugin stores full HTML pages on disk for non-logged-in visitors. The cache is automatically cleared when content is updated, ensuring visitors always see fresh content.

Ideal for small to medium-sized sites and webshops that want maximum speed without complex settings.

Main features:

– Caching for non-logged-in users (GET requests only)

html )

– Cache files are stored in /wp-content/uploads/simple-page-cache/

php ) for maximum speed before WordPress loads

– Nginx configuration generation for direct cache serving

– Automatic cache clearing when posts/pages are updated

– E-commerce integration with intelligent cache clearing for:

– WooCommerce (orders, stock updates, product changes)

– Easy Digital Downloads (purchases, download updates)

– BigCommerce for WordPress (product updates)

– Generic e-commerce plugins (product post types)

– Automatic detection of dynamic pages (cart, checkout, account, wishlist) for:

– WooCommerce

– BigCommerce for WordPress

– Easy Digital Downloads

– iThemes Exchange

– Jigoshop

– WP-Shop

– Detected dynamic pages are automatically excluded from caching

– Manual cache clearing via admin bar button

– Nginx config regeneration via admin bar button

– Performance comments in cached HTML files

– No complex settings, no database writes

Nginx Configuration

For maximum performance, you can configure nginx to serve cached files directly without PHP processing:

• Copy the nginx configuration from /wp-content/uploads/simple-page-cache/nginx.conf

• Add the configuration to your nginx server block for your domain

• Test nginx configuration: sudo nginx -t

• Reload nginx: sudo systemctl reload nginx

The nginx configuration includes:

– Internal location block for serving cached files

– Automatic cache bypass for logged-in users

– Automatic cache bypass for requests with query strings

– Debug headers to identify cache hits

Benefits of nginx direct serving:

– Faster response times (no PHP processing)

– Lower server load

– Better scalability

– Direct file serving from disk

How it works

• For every non-logged-in visitor and every GET request, a static HTML file is created and served.

• Path-based cache structure: Cache files are organized as /host/path/index.html for direct nginx serving.

• Pages with characteristics of dynamic e-commerce pages (such as cart, checkout, account, wishlist) are automatically detected and excluded from caching. The plugin recognizes WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, iThemes Exchange, Jigoshop, and WP-Shop.

• The list of excluded pages is automatically maintained in a file in the cache directory.

• Automatic cache clearing: When posts or pages are updated, the plugin efficiently clears cache using the new path-based structure and scans for related content.

• E-commerce integration: For WooCommerce, when orders are placed or product stock is updated, the plugin automatically clears cache for the affected products and related pages (categories, tags, shop pages, homepage).

• Performance comments: Each cached HTML file includes a comment with timestamp and host information for debugging and transparency.

• Nginx integration: Generated nginx configuration allows direct serving of cached files without PHP processing for maximum performance.

Clearing the cache

• Click the “Clear Page Cache” button in the admin bar (visible to administrators only) to remove all cache files.

• Click the “Regenerate nginx.conf” button in the admin bar to regenerate the nginx configuration file.

Deactivation

• When deactivating the plugin:

• The drop-in advanced-cache.php is removed.

• The define('WP_CACHE', true); line (if placed by this plugin) is removed from wp-config.php.