Understanding the persistent object cache: when it is important and when it can be ignored

Introduction

In today's digital age, the performance of a website is of crucial importance. Sooner or later, many webmasters and developers come across the term "persistent object cache". But is this technology really necessary for every website? In this article, we'll look at the benefits and potential risks of persistent object caching and clarify when you actually need it and when you can safely ignore it.

What is a persistent object cache?

A persistent object cache is a technology that is often used to improve the speed and performance of a website by storing data in the cache so that it can be retrieved quickly in the event of repeated requests. Well-known tools for persistent caching are Redis and Memcached.

When is a persistent object cache not necessary?

Few users really need this

For many smaller websites and blogs, a persistent object cache is often superfluous. These sites usually have lower performance requirements and fewer visitors, so the performance gain from an object cache can be minimal. In such cases, the complexity and risk of a persistent object cache can outweigh the potential benefits.

Potential security risks

An incorrectly configured object cache can pose considerable security risks. For example, insecure settings could lead to sensitive data such as user data being unprotected. There are cases in which large online stores have suffered data leaks due to incorrect configurations, with third-party customer data being displayed after a login.

Effects on the page yield

Does not necessarily make every website faster

While a persistent object cache can improve the performance of many websites, this is not always the case. Especially for smaller sites or those without complex database queries, the benefit can be minimal. In some cases, a poorly configured cache can even slow down the website.

Plugin compatibility

Another aspect is the compatibility of plugins with the object cache. Some plugins are not optimized to work with object caches, which can lead to performance problems. It is important to ensure that the plugins used harmonize well with the cache system.

Recommendations from WordPress (Automattic)

Automattic, the company behind WordPress, recommends the use of persistent object caches such as Redis or Memcached for large and complex websites. However, these technologies are specialized server software and not absolutely necessary for every website. Websites can also run efficiently and securely without these caches, especially if they are well optimized and maintained.

Alternatives to the persistent object cache

OPCache as an example

An example of a non-persistent cache is OPCache, a PHP opcode cache that improves the execution speed of PHP scripts. Many hosters already have OPCache enabled by default, which provides an immediate performance improvement without additional configuration.

Conclusion

A persistent object cache can significantly improve the performance and speed of a website, but is not always necessary and can cause security risks and performance problems if configured incorrectly. For many small to medium-sized websites, it is sufficient to rely on standard caching solutions such as OPCache. Large and complex websites should carefully consider whether the benefits of a persistent object cache justify the potential risks and configuration effort.

Overall, implementing a persistent object cache is a decision that should be made with care and expertise to ensure the best possible performance and security of the website.