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Speed Cache - Joomla Performance Optimization

Joomla has a native cache and Gzip compression system, that's a good start. Speed Cache comes over as a natural improvement of the Joomla page cache system with a lot of performance, compatibility and features enhancement.

To be more specific Speed Cache brings: a powerful static page caching, compatible with user sessions, a full browser cache system, a preloading cache system, a URL inclusion/exclusion cache control and a resource minification. Some handy tools are also part of the extension like the activation for logged in/logout users, an auto-index for caching URLs and an automatic cache cleaner on specified actions. Everything is under control from the Speed Cache dashboard.

Speed-Cache-2

 

Before / After optimization overview

Joomla cache and Gzip loading time: 2.3 seconds 

Before optimization

 

VS Joomla cache and Gzip + Speed Cache optimization: 1.3 seconds

After optimization

Page tested: a Joomla article page + 3 modules. Page size = 1.7MB, 670KB of images, other resources 1.030MB 

 

Comparison Between Joomla Optimization and Speed Cache

JOOMLA INBUILT OPTIMIZATIONJOOMLA + SPEEDCAHE OPTIMIZATION
Joomla cacheJoomla cache system from the global configurationOKJoomla cache system from the global configurationOKJoomla cache system can be used (recommended) along with all SpeedCache optimizations
Gzip compressionJoomla default Gzip compressionOKJoomla default Gzip compressionOKJoomla default Gzip compression should be used (recommended) along with all SpeedCache optimizations
Advanced static HTML cacheGenerate a more static content for all users (loggedin and guests) served from cachenot availableOnly Joomla default cache elementsOKGenerate a more static content for all users (loggedin and guests) served from cache
Browser cache cleanableAdd a browser cache system with the possibility to give instructions to clear itnot availableJoomla default: Does not use browser cachingOKAdd a browser cache system with the possibility to give instructions to clear it
Cache for guests and loggedin usersAs an option active all cache cache for guest, logged in users or both, by pagenot availableBy default in Joomla you can't use cache for loggedin usersOKAs an option active all cache cache for guest, logged in users or both, by page
Image CompressionSpeedCache includes an image compression quota: get 1GB or 3GB using ImageRecycle dedicated service. u200bAvailable for all your websites!not availableNo image compression in Joomla by defaultOKSpeedCache includes an image compression quota: get 1GB or 3GB using ImageRecycle dedicated service. u200bAvailable for all your websites!
Files Group and MinifyMinify all files to reduce their size and group them in a single to serve them fasternot availableNo resources minification or group in Joomla by defaultOKSpeedCache includes a minification process per file and offers a group possibility for JS/CSS and font files
Image Lazy LoadingLazy Load delays loading of images in long web pages. Images outside of viewport will not be loaded before user scrolls to them.not availableNo lazy loading included in JoomlaOKLazy Load delays loading of images in long web pages. Images outside of viewport will not be loaded before user scrolls to them.
CDNSpeedCache includes a CDN configuration that is compaticle with all the major providers like Amazon, Cloudflare, KeyCDN...not availableNo CDN included by default in Joomla configurationOKSpeedCache includes a CDN configuration that is compaticle with all the major providers like Amazon, Cloudflare, KeyCDN...
Preload cache after cleanGenerate automatically of new cached version of your pages after cleaning the cachenot availableNo cache proloading in Joomla by defaultOKGenerate automatically of new cached version of your pages after cleaning the cache
All cache system autocleanOn click or when waving a content: Clean Joomla cache, speed cache static cache and update version for browser cachenot availableNo autoclean system available in Joomla by defaultOKOn click or when waving a content: Clean Joomla cache, speed cache static cache and update version for browser cache
Add and setup Expire headersCheck and setup the Expire Headers for png,jpg,gif,css,js filesnot availableNo expire headers handlingOKCheck and setup the Expire Headers for png,jpg,gif,css,js files
Include - Exclude URLs from cachePossibility to include or exclude your pages from cache one by onenot availableNo specific URL rule, only global cacheOKPossibility to include or exclude your pages from cache one by one
Cached URLs by Inclusion/Exclusion rulesUse rules to Include/Exclude a set of URLs from cache like www.url.com/forum/* (including Regex)not availableUse rules to Include/Exclude a set of URLs from cache like www.url.com/forum/* (including Regex)OKUse rules to Include/Exclude a set of URLs from cache like www.url.com/forum/* (including Regex)
Auto add URL to cache from new menuAutomatically add new menus to Speed Cache system (as an option)not availableAutomatically add new menus to Speed Cache system (as an option)OKAutomatically add new menus to Speed Cache system (as an option)

 

Powerful Cache System and Browser Caching

cache-levels-joomla


Speed Cache for Joomla is coming over the Joomla default cache system with a new cache layer, by sending more static content (HTML) therefore reducing the number of database queries. Plus, you have the possibility to store the major part of the heavy page resources (like images) in the browser cache. And you can clean it when you want!

 

Speed & Cache Where you Want

URL-cache-inclusion-exclusion

The Speed Cache cache is activated on a selection of pages of your website, the system is very flexible and you're always sure that it works on every website. You can also do a batch import of URL from a menu to the cache system. The cache inclusion/exclusion system is very powerful:

  • Include single URLs
  • Exclude single URLs
  • Include from cache a set of URLs based on rules (regular expressions included)
  • Exclude from cache a set of URLs based on rules (regular expressions included)
  • Per URL define: Activate cache for public and/or for registered users
  • Per URL define: Preload cache URLs for public and/or registered users
  • Per URL activate the cache preloading per user 

 

Dynamic Elements in Cache

speed-cache-loggedin

 

The main problem with serving static content, like the Joomla Page cache plugin, is that it does not work at all with dynamic elements and user sessions. Speed cache got 2 systems to avoid the problem of cache on dynamic content:

  • Speed Cache generates static cache file per Joomla user then it also works for dynamic content (like form, sessions..)
  • Not sure about it? no problem, there's an option for each page URL to include/exclude logged in users from the cache
  • You can also preload cache per user right after a clean cache

 

Image Compression and Lazy Loading

Images represent an average of 60% of the page weight so it's a high priority in the optimization process. Speed Cache includes an image compression tool and a lazy loading option:

  • Image Compression: Apply an invisible image compression and reduce image size by up to 80% (by ImageRecycle)
  • Lazy loading: Load only images when it’s visible in the by user (on scroll)
  • Inclusion and Exclusion by URL rules

image-compression-lazy-loading

 

Mobile Cache and Per Device

Speed Cache can handle the cache for mobile automatically or you can generate a dedicated cache version per device. The result is that you'll be sure that Speed Cache will run smoothly with any template framework. Mobile cache features:

  • Automatically serve same cache for all devices
  • Dedicated cache for tablet
  • Dedicated cache for tablet
  • Option to disable cache for a specified device

mobile-cache

 

Clean all Cache and Regenerate it

clean-generate-cache


Speed cache can get rid of the cache cleaning problem, all caches (Joomla, Speed Cache static and browser cache) can be cleaned in one click or automatically based on action. Indeed, on backend/frontend actions like save a content, all cache can be cleaned. You can also regenerate automatically all caches, so no one will wait for the cache generation anymore.

 

A Dashboard to Rule all the Performance

speedcache-dashboard


A dashboard is available to help you to check all major performance issues you have and fix it in one click, pretty handy to optimize performance in no time.

  • Check for Joomla cache activation and duration
  • Check for Gzip compression
  • Expire Headers presence and duration
  • Speed cache URL Autoindex activation
  • PHP version
  • Browser cache activation
  • Auto Clear cache activation
  • Check for CDN activation
  • Check for file minification
  • Check for resource group

 

Group files in a single one for a faster loading

Group all your JS, CSS and fonts files in a single click. The group file feature includes

  • Group all JS files
  • Group all CSS files
  • Group Fonts

group-files

 

Resources Minification

minification-file-cache

 

Speed cache got a tool to do minification of your website resources and it includes a powerful tool to avoid conflicts while keeping the maximum of performance. Indeed, you can scan for files loaded on frontend, JS, CSS and fonts, then activate the minification per file!

 

Use a Content Delivery Network (aka CDN)

cdn-integartion-in-joomla

 

The use of CDN (Content Delivery Network) has been proven to be efficient especially if you have an international audience. It helps serving website media from a local source all over the world. A CDN integration is available with all the major CDN on the market like Cloudflare, Amazon Cloudfront, MaxCDN, KeyCDN and others.

 

Configuration Import/Export

Website optimization takes time and importing a file to get back all your extension configuration is faster. From the configuration, you can Import or Export a json file.

import-export-configuration

 

Module AJAX Refresh

Speed Cache adds an option per module to load it through AJAX (async loading) and to automatically refresh it without cache. It will avoid all cache persistence on specific Joomla module

AJAX-module-cache

 

Still Not Sure? Use our Chrome Extension

chrome-cache-checker

If the cache has been served using SpeedCache extension got a green symbol on your below your chrome extension logo, if not it's grey, as simple as that! JoomUnited chrome extension cache checker displays also general information (apply to all websites).

  • Total page loading time
  • Varnish server cache
  • When the Varnish cache have been generated (current or previous request)
  • Details of the loading time by element: Waiting for browser reply, Redirect (if any), DNS resolution, Connect to server
  • Details of the loading time by element: Content sending, Receive, Unload time, Dom time, Load time

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