When a frontend repeatedly requests WordPress content through the REST API, caching lets the plugin serve repeated GET requests from cache. WP REST Cache Pro is the paid edition of WP REST Cache, which handles standard REST API endpoints and custom post type and taxonomy endpoints.

Set up custom endpoints in wp-admin

Pro lets you select custom REST endpoints for caching and configure relationships within them through wp-admin, without coding. Custom endpoints can also be registered with the wp_rest_cache/allowed_endpoints hook.

Relationships help identify which content a response depends on. For configured custom endpoints, the add-on tries to detect related content and flush matching caches when that content is edited. Detection can miss relationships, so configure endpoints to reflect the content used in each response. Custom post type and taxonomy endpoints that use their own WP_REST_Controller implementation also require configuration for caching.

Manage cached responses

Set how long a cache remains valid, enable automatic regeneration, and check how many times a cache has been retrieved. You can flush all caches manually or clear specific ones. When a page or post is edited, the plugin automatically flushes cache related to that content.

Install and configure the base plugin

Install WP REST Cache from Plugins > Add New and activate it, or upload the wp-rest-cache folder to /wp-content/plugins/ and activate it. After activation, check Plugins > Must-Use. If the WP REST Cache must-use plugin is missing, copy wp-rest-cache.php from the extension's /sources folder to /wp-content/mu-extensions/. Adjust the cache timeout under Settings > WP REST Cache, then configure custom endpoints and their relationships through Pro's admin interface.