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Caching Considerations

With the appropriate configuration, WordPress can be configured to cache GraphQL requests on a CDN until the underlying content changes. This can improve performance for frontend sites that rely on these endpoints, and also reduce the load on your CMS in cases where a large amount of API requests will be made in a short period of time, like a full site build process.

Using the Backend Starter Project​

If you created your WordPress site using the backend starter project, recommended caching configurations were automatically enabled on install. Using this project:

  • The WPGraphQL Smart Cache plugin is enabled to allow GraphQL requests via the GET method for improved network caching.
  • Response headers are set to allow CDN caching of GraphQL requests for 10 minutes.
  • The Pantheon Advanced Page Cache module is enabled, which enables caching and purging across the entire decoupled stack.

Manual Configuration​

For projects that do not use the Decoupled Kit backend starter project, manual configuration can be followed in order to enable edge caching and purging.

Edge caching instructions below focus on sites running on Pantheon, but can be adapted for other platforms.

Enabling WPGraphQL Smart Cache​

  • Run the following Composer command:
composer require wp-graphql/wp-graphql-smart-cache

In the WordPress Dashboard:

  • Activate the WPGraphQL Smart Cache plugin.
  • Navigate to the GraphQL settings page GraphQL > Settings and set the 'Cache-Control max-age' to a value greater than zero.
note

We recommend leaving the object cache option disabled when using this plugin on Pantheon projects. This will allow the necessary headers for cache purging to be included in responses.

Enabling Edge Caching​

  • Run the following Composer command:
composer require wpackagist-plugin/pantheon-advanced-page-cache
  • In the WordPress dashboard, enable the Pantheon Advanced Page Cache plugin.

Taking Advantage of GraphQL Caching on the Frontend​

For details on how to make full use of WPGraphQL Network Caching in your frontend application, see the Surrogate Key Based Cache Purging entry in the Frontend Starters section of the documentation.