What is Browser Caching?

Browser caching is a technical process that allows a visitor's browser to store local copies of your website's files (like images, CSS, and JS). This means that when the user returns to your site or navigates to a new page, the browser doesn't have to download everything from scratch. It simply pulls the files from its own 'memory.'

Why It Matters for UX and SEO

Speed is everything. By implementing caching, you significantly reduce the load time for returning visitors. This improves your Core Web Vitals, which is a key ranking factor for Google. A faster site leads to a lower bounce rate and a much smoother user experience.

How to Implement Caching

For most users, caching can be enabled via a simple plugin or by adding specific rules to your server's .htaccess file. You can set 'expiration dates' for different file types—for example, you might want your logo to be cached for a year, but your blog content for only a week.