Boost WordPress Speed: Remove Query Strings from Static Resources
Explanation
When you're looking to speed up your WordPress site, one nifty trick is to remove those pesky query strings from your static resources like CSS and JS files. Why? Because some caching mechanisms and CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) don't cache files with query strings, which can slow things down.
This little snippet does just that. It checks if your file URLs have a query string that starts with ?ver= and removes it. This is particularly common in WordPress where version numbers are added to file URLs.
- Function: The function
wp_dudecom_remove_query_stringstakes the URL of your script or style file and strips out the version query string. - Hooks: It uses two hooks,
script_loader_srcandstyle_loader_src, to apply this function to both scripts and styles. This means whenever a script or style is loaded, it checks for and removes the query string.
By implementing this, your static resources can be cached more effectively, potentially speeding up your site. Just remember, this won't affect the functionality of your site, but it might make it load a bit faster!
Code
<?php
/**
* Remove query strings from static resources in WordPress.
*
* This function removes query strings from static resources like CSS and JS files
* to improve caching and performance.
*
* @param string $src The source URL of the enqueued script or style.
* @return string The modified source URL without query strings.
*/
function wp_dudecom_remove_query_strings( $src ) {
if ( strpos( $src, '?ver=' ) ) {
$src = remove_query_arg( 'ver', $src );
}
return $src;
}
// Hook into the script loader to remove query strings from scripts.
add_filter( 'script_loader_src', 'wp_dudecom_remove_query_strings', 15, 1 );
// Hook into the style loader to remove query strings from styles.
add_filter( 'style_loader_src', 'wp_dudecom_remove_query_strings', 15, 1 );
?>Instructions
To implement the code for removing query strings from static resources in WordPress, follow these steps:
File Location: You will need to add the code to your theme's functions.php file or a custom plugin file if you prefer to keep your theme files untouched.
Prerequisites: No additional plugins or settings are required for this implementation.
Implementation Steps:
- Access Your WordPress Files: Use an FTP client or your hosting provider's file manager to access your WordPress installation files.
- Locate the
functions.phpFile: Navigate towp-content/themes/your-active-theme/and open thefunctions.phpfile for editing. Alternatively, if you prefer using a plugin, create or open your custom plugin file. - Add the Code: Copy and paste the provided code snippet into the
functions.phpfile or your custom plugin file. Ensure it is placed at the end of the file or in an appropriate section. - Save Changes: After adding the code, save the changes to the file.
- Test Your Site: Visit your WordPress site and inspect the source code of your pages to ensure that query strings are removed from the URLs of static resources like CSS and JS files.
By following these steps, you can improve the caching and performance of your WordPress site by removing query strings from static resources. If you need assistance with implementation or require more advanced functionality, consider reaching out to wp-dude.com for expert help.