WordPress wp cron: Tricks and tips to optimize your website

In the WordPress universe, there are numerous functions and files that enable the proper functioning and optimization of our websites. One of those files is wp-cron.php, an essential part for managing scheduled tasks. In this article, we'll explore in detail what it is, what it's for, and whether or not it's appropriate to disable it.

In this article, we will cover several key aspects to fully understand the usage and operation wp cron de wordpress. Among these aspects, we emphasize meaning and function wp-cron.php, the impact of the web server on its execution and how to optimize our scheduled tasks and events in WordPress. Also, we will discuss the reasons and possible consequences of disabling wp-cron and how to do it safely.

What is WP-Cron and how does it work?

He wp-cron.php is a WordPress file that allows us to schedule tasks within our website. This file is executed every time a user visits our site, allowing WordPress to check for pending scheduled tasks. Here is a list of the most common tasks performed using wp-cron:

1. Scheduled publication of the post
2. Updating plugins and themes
3. Sending notifications by email
4. Generating a backup copy

Some of these processes can require a large amount of server resources, so it is essential to understand how to manage them properly.

WP-Cron and server performance

One of the characteristics wp-cron.php is that it is triggered every time you visit our website, regardless of whether there are scheduled tasks or not. This constant startup can affect the performance of our web server, especially if our site has a lot of traffic.

This is where the concept of "Cron Jobs" comes into play. In systems such as Unix or Linux, "Cron jobs" are scheduled tasks that run automatically on the server, without the need for user interaction.

In WordPress, wp-cron It works in a similar way, but unlike Unix or Linux systems, its execution does not depend on the server, but on the visit to our website.

Is it useful to disable WP-Cron?

As we mentioned before, wp-cron.php it runs with every visit to our website, which can be useful on low-traffic sites as it ensures that scheduled cron tasks run regularly. However, on high-traffic sites, this constant startup can overload our web server and affect its performance.

On the other hand, disable it completely wp-cron is not a viable solution, as many WordPress functions depend on it to function properly. Instead, we can disable wp-cron in WordPress and configure a cron job on our server to run at a certain frequency.

To deactivate wp-cron in WordPress, we need to edit the file wp-config.php and add the following line of code:

define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);

This action will prevent wp-cron.php run with each visit to the page. But as we mentioned earlier, we still need scheduled tasks to run regularly. To do this, we will configure a cron job on our server.

Setting up a Cron Job on the server

Creating a cron job on our server will allow us to control the frequency of execution of scheduled tasks. Depending on our hosting provider, the procedure for creating a cron job may differ, but in general, we must follow the following steps:

1. Access the control panel of our hosting.
2. Look for the Cron Jobs or Scheduled Tasks section.
3. Create a new scheduled task.
4. Set the execution frequency (hourly, daily, etc.)
5. Enter the path to the file in the command to be executed wp-cron.php from our website. For example:

wget -q -O -  >/dev/null 2>&1

By configuring a cron job on our server, we can control the load that scheduled tasks generate on it, optimizing the performance of our website.

Optimizing WP-Cron with plugins

There are various plugins available that can help us manage and optimize WP-Cron. These plugins offer us additional functionality, such as the ability to view and control scheduled tasks, and sometimes even the ability to create new tasks.

WP Crontrol

WP Crontrol is one of the most popular plugins for WP-Cron management. This plugin allows us to view all scheduled tasks, edit their time intervals and, if necessary, create new tasks.

One of the most useful features WP Crontrol is the possibility of deleting planned tasks that are no longer needed. This allows us to keep our WP-Cron clean and efficient, improving the performance of our website.

WP Crontrol

WP Crontrol allows you to see and control what is happening in the WP-Cron system.

Advanced Cron Manager

Addition Advanced Cron Manager is another great option for WP-Cron management. As WP Crontrol, this plugin allows us to view, edit and create scheduled tasks. Additionally, Advanced Cron Manager it offers the option to pause tasks, which can be very useful when we perform maintenance or updates to our website.

Advanced Cron Manager - debugging and controls

View, pause, remove, edit and add WP Cron events and schedules.

Completion of WP-Cron configuration

After we have disabled WP-Cron in WordPress and set up a cron job on our server, it is recommended to use one of the above plugins to optimize our WP-Cron.

It's important to remember that while these actions will help us improve our site's performance, we must continue to monitor ours web server and adjusting our WP-Cron settings as needed.

Conclusion

WP-Cron is a powerful tool that allows us to schedule and execute tasks in WordPress. However, managing them can be a challenge, especially on high-traffic sites. In this article, we explored how we can optimize WP-Cron to improve the performance of our website.

Remember, success in optimizing your website lies in constantly monitoring and adjusting your settings, and WP-Cron is no exception.