Taking Care of WordPress Database for faster websites with Gordan Orlic – SWC 33
May 9, 2019 May 9, 2019 /
Majority of WordPress users live in the WordPress dashboard and hardly know about the magical place called the “Database” that stores all the data of posts, pages, images URLs, comments and so on.
Gordan Orlic explains the WordPress database basics like how to access the database, why database size becomes abnormally big, how to trim down database size by optimization, why database backup is important and much more.
01. WordPress Database Basics
- Majority of new people coming to the WordPress ecosystem would hardly know about the database that powers a WordPress website, thanks to automatic “one-click” WordPress installs. Every action you take in WordPress dashboard, that information is stored in a database on MYSQL server, how to explain this in more simpler terms?
- I still remember, in the early days one has to open wp-config files to input database details like database name, username, password. Now everything happens automatically in the background. What if a person wants to update database information, does one still the perform same wp-config routine or is there a simpler user interface in the form of a plugin option in the web hosting panel?
02. Bloated Database overtime
- Most of us are trigger happy people and install a lot of plugins, themes on a WordPress install just for checking the functionality. Majority of this stay there in disabled stated or few are deleted. But all this adds bloat to the database, what’s your take?
- Isn’t the best way to test plugins without adding database bloat is spinning up development install and do all the testing there first?
- Besides theme and plugin installs, are there other reasons that can inflate the database size very quickly in a WordPress website like spam comments, post revisions, pingbacks and so on?
03. Access the Database
- It should not come as a surprise that the majority of users know WordPress as WordPress Dashboard and nothing else. But the main data storage and access happen from the database itself. Accessing the database from cpanel and viewing in myphp admin is scary enough for the newest users. How does one provide a less fearful way to access WordPress database contents?
04. Before Database Optimization
- An optimized and learner database means a faster loading WordPress website. What is the technical reasoning behind this?
- Before someone starts with database optimization, it is important to take the database backup. One way is, take the full website backup and the other way is just take a backup of the database. Plus, you happen to be the creators of WP Reset , a free plugin for database backup and restore feature. So, which is your recommended method for database backup before a user makes changes to the database by running optimization routines?
05. Optimizing the Database
- The database needs regular attention and care as a lot of stray data builds up over time which needs to be cleaned. I have personally used WP-Optimize, WP Sweep plugins for the same. Which is your recommended way to optimize the database?
- How often should a user optimize the database? Is it a week, month or a longer time interval?
- Why migrating big size database fail and what is the recommended method for transferring large size database WordPress websites?
Gordan Orlic’s ToolBox
- Zapier for automating the majority parts of the online business.
- Use Helpscout for managing all emails for support and communication.
- For file storage and sharing use Dropbox all the time.
- Use Grammarly for English language correction and improvement.
- Use Siteground for products and clients website hosting.
- Prefer user interface of Elementor for page building purpose.
About Gordan Orlic
I’ve been running WebFactory for the last ten years. Years flew by quickly, the team grew to 10 people, and we did a lot of projects, but they all had one thing in common – WordPress.
Whatever we do; clients sites, SaaS-es, plugins, themes, white-label services, we do it all using WordPress.
It has been our focus and love for the past decade, and we plan to continue working exclusively with WordPress for some time to come.
More: Website / All Plugins / Twitter
