// hosting explained
Edge cache vs CDN vs page cache: what each one does for WordPress
Hosts list five kinds of cache and it sounds like marketing. Each one removes a different step between a visitor and your server.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- CDN: copies images, CSS and JS to servers near visitors.
- Edge cache: also copies whole HTML pages, so most visits never reach your server.
- Page cache: stores built pages on your server.
- Object cache: keeps database query results in memory for uncached pages.
- OPcache: keeps compiled PHP in memory.
The layers, from visitor to database
| Layer | Stores | Helps |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Static files near visitors | Images, CSS, JS load faster worldwide |
| Edge cache | Full HTML pages at edge locations | Most page views skip your server completely |
| Page cache | Built pages on the origin | Repeat views don't run PHP |
| Object cache | Database results in memory | Uncached pages (carts, admin) run faster |
| OPcache | Compiled PHP | Every PHP request is cheaper |
Pressable includes all five, with the Edge Cache at 28 locations. Carts, checkouts and logged-in sessions are never served from it, and that's why a store still needs PHP workers.
Practical tips
- Don't stack a caching plugin's page cache on top of a host's edge cache unless the host recommends it.
- After a full purge, the first visitors are slow; preloading fixes that.
- If your audience is far from your origin server, the edge cache matters more than the data center choice.
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