Caching in TYPO3 – Glossary

TYPO3 Caching

Caching in TYPO3 helps your website run faster. It stores parts of your site so that they load quickly for visitors. When you make changes, TYPO3 updates the stored parts automatically. This means your site is always up-to-date and speedy. Caching is a smart way to keep your site performing well.

Caching stores already calculated parts of a page temporarily so that they do not have to be generated again on the next request. TYPO3 uses a multi-level system for this: the page cache holds finished pages, while further caches store configurations, database queries and translations. As a result, response times and server load drop noticeably.

In everyday work the page cache is the most relevant. When an editor changes content, TYPO3 clears the cache of the affected pages automatically so that visitors see current content. For complex pages with dynamic areas, such as forms or personalised content, developers have to decide which parts may be cached.

In addition, a reverse proxy such as Varnish or a caching plugin for static files can be placed in front. Such solutions deliver pages almost without PHP calculation and withstand load peaks. The right cache invalidation is important so that outdated content does not stay visible too long.

For problems with outdated content, clearing the cache in the backend helps. Avoid clearing it completely all the time, however, because the first delivery afterwards takes longer. Clearing individual pages in a targeted way is usually enough.

We analyse your cache configuration and set up a concept that balances speed and freshness.

Test your caching concept regularly, especially after larger changes to the template or extensions. Check whether logged-in users, shopping carts and forms are handled correctly and whether pages with parameters do not create unnecessarily many cache entries. A look at response times before and after changes shows whether the measures work. A short documentation of the cache rules helps the team narrow down errors faster when old content is displayed.