Skip to main content

Page Cache

What it does

Page Cache stores anonymous HTML so logged-out visitors get a fast response before WordPress fully rebuilds the page. Nitro’s cache is Theme Builder–aware and understands many Divi Engine plugins.

A successful cache hit can send an X-Nitro-Cache response header (useful in Page Cache troubleshooting).

One page cache only

If LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket, WP-Optimize, or another HTML cache is active, leave Nitro Page Cache off. See Working with other performance plugins.

Watch the walkthrough

Starts at 14:55 in the Divi Nitro 5.0 walkthrough.

Where to find it

Divi Engine → Nitro Settings → Page Cache

Tabs: Settings and Cached pages.

Cache modes

ModeBest forNotes
Smart (recommended)Most Divi sitesTheme Builder–aware regions; product/post body stays per URL
Full pageWhen Smart looks wrongOne HTML file per URL; simpler fallback

Switching mode clears the page cache on save so Smart and Full entries are never mixed.

Core settings

SettingTypeDefaultWhat it does
Enable page cacheToggleOffServe cached HTML to anonymous visitors
Cache modeRadioSmartSmart vs Full (see above)
Homepage TTLNumber (seconds)86400 (1 day)Hard expiry; soft refresh starts around 80%. Quick badges: 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 30 days
Posts & pages TTLNumber (seconds)604800 (1 week)Singular content. Edits still purge related tags
Archives & terms TTLNumber (seconds)2592000 (30 days)Category, tag, and other archives
Paths never to cacheText/cart/*, /checkout/*, /my-account/*, /wc-api/*One path per line; * wildcards. Cart, checkout, account, admin, REST, and the Visual Builder are always skipped
Cookies that skip page cacheTextemptyOne cookie name (or part of a name) per line. Protect de_protect_* cookies are included automatically
Do not cache filtered Ajax Filter URLsToggleOffOff (recommended): separate cache per ?filter=true URL. On: skip caching those URLs if they fill the cache
Warm after purgeToggleOnQueue regenerated URLs (and the homepage) after a smart purge
Purge all / Warm now / Refresh statsButtonsClear the whole cache, warm important URLs, or refresh hit-rate stats

Cart, checkout, account, admin, REST, and the Divi Visual Builder are always skipped. Logged-in visitors are skipped unless logged-in page variants are enabled. POST form submissions are never stored.

Native Divi Contact Forms can stay on cached pages. Nitro refreshes the form security nonce in the browser. If a third-party form still misbehaves, add its path under Paths never to cache.

Multi-layer store and edge purge

Nitro does not replace WordPress object-cache.php. Prefer host Redis object cache for admin speed; Nitro Redis is only for page HTML.

SettingTypeDefaultWhat it does
Cache storeRadioFilesystemFilesystem (wp-content/cache/divi-nitro-page) or Redis (phpredis). Falls back to files if Redis is unreachable. Switching store clears the cache
Redis host / port / password / database / prefixText / number127.0.0.1, 6379, empty, 0, nitro_pc:Connection details. Password is never shown in stats
Purge Cloudflare on Nitro purgeToggleOffPurges matching URLs (or everything on purge-all) via the Cloudflare API. Keep Cloudflare APO off
Cloudflare Zone ID / API tokenTextemptyToken needs Cache Purge permission
Purge Nginx cache on Nitro purgeToggleOffOptional FastCGI/proxy purge
Nginx purge URL templateTextemptyUse {path}, {url}, or {host} — for example http://127.0.0.1/purge{path}
Nginx purge methodRadioPURGEHTTP PURGE or GET
Logged-in page variantsToggleOffAdvanced. Caches one generic logged-in HTML variant (not per role). Skip if pages show personalized logged-in content

Dynamic regions (Smart cache)

These areas stay live on cached pages (hole-punched after load).

SettingTypeDefaultWhat it does
Keep mini cart dynamicToggleOnWooCommerce mini cart and Divi cart indicators are not frozen
Always dynamic (CSS selectors)TextemptyOne class or ID per line; those elements refresh per visitor when possible
Always dynamic canvas / layout IDsTextemptyComma-separated Divi layout IDs that should never be stored as Smart regions
Cache these canvas / layout IDs as regionsTextemptyOptional IDs wrapped with data-nitro-canvas="ID" (or id="nitro-canvas-ID") stored as separate Smart regions

Cached pages tab

Search URLs, see Fresh/Stale status, and clear one page at a time.

Divi Engine awareness

When other Divi Engine plugins are active, Page Cache applies safer defaults:

  • Ajax Filter URLs can cache separately
  • Protect unlock cookies skip cache
  • Membership account paths are excluded
  • Mega Menu Ajax Loaded URLs bypass cache
  • Form Builder edit/payment URLs skip cache

How to enable safely

  1. Confirm no other HTML page cache is active.
  2. Enable Page Cache in Smart mode.
  3. Purge, then Warm cache (or visit key pages logged out twice).
  4. Check hit rate and the Cached pages list.
  5. Test homepage, shop, filters, forms, and locked/member pages.
tip

Balanced and Aggressive presets can enable Page Cache automatically when no competing cache plugin is detected.

What's Next