In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a user raised an essential question about WooCommerce’s compatibility with caching services, specifically Cloudflare.
Caching can significantly improve site performance, but WooCommerce’s dynamic nature means some pages need special handling to ensure a seamless experience for customers. Here, we’ll discuss best practices for using Cloudflare with WooCommerce, along with any potential caveats to be mindful of.
Essential Cache Exclusions for WooCommerce
When configuring Cloudflare caching for a WooCommerce store, it’s crucial to exclude certain pages that contain dynamic content or require real-time updates. These include:
Key Pages to Exclude
- Cart (
/cart): Since this page updates with each item a customer adds, caching it could lead to display errors, where customers see outdated cart contents. - Checkout (
/checkout): This page handles sensitive customer data and changes constantly as customers fill in their details. Caching here can cause significant issues with accuracy and security. - My Account (
/my-account): The My Account page contains personalized information for each user, so caching could display one user’s data to another.
Using Cloudflare’s Page Rules feature, you can exclude these pages by setting up rules to bypass caching on specific URLs. Cloudflare’s Wildcard Matching can help streamline the setup, allowing you to exclude entire directories easily.
Additional Considerations with Cloudflare Caching
Use a Cache Plugin with WooCommerce Support
Cloudflare’s caching works best in combination with a WooCommerce-compatible caching plugin, like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache. These plugins often come with built-in settings to automatically exclude WooCommerce’s dynamic pages from caching, and they can work in tandem with Cloudflare’s page caching rules.
Fine-Tune Caching Levels
Cloudflare offers several caching levels (e.g., standard, no-query-string). Choosing a more selective caching level may help ensure that WooCommerce functionality remains intact, especially if the store has pages with various query parameters.
Regular Testing
After setting up caching rules, thoroughly test the store’s functionality. Log in as a customer, add items to the cart, go through checkout, and check the My Account page to ensure the exclusions work as expected. Any caching misconfiguration could lead to customer frustration and potentially lost sales.
In Summary
WooCommerce can work well with Cloudflare’s caching when configured correctly. By excluding key pages, using a WooCommerce-friendly caching plugin, and fine-tuning caching levels, you can harness the benefits of Cloudflare without disrupting the dynamic functionality that WooCommerce relies on.
