improving site performance with caching on github pages

Why Caching Matters for GitHub Pages

Caching stores copies of your website’s resources in the user's browser, reducing load times on repeat visits and easing server demand. For static sites hosted on GitHub Pages, effective caching significantly improves user experience and SEO.

Types of Caching to Consider

• Browser caching: Configuring HTTP headers to specify how long browsers should cache static files.
• Service worker caching: Using JavaScript to cache resources and serve content offline or faster.

Step 1: Set Cache-Control Headers via GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages automatically adds some caching headers, but they are limited. For more control, use .htaccess or server config files (not available in GitHub Pages) or implement cache-busting strategies like versioned filenames.

Step 2: Use Versioned Filenames for Assets

Since you cannot modify server headers on GitHub Pages, append query strings or change filenames when assets update to ensure users get fresh content:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/css/style.css?v=1.2">

Step 3: Implement Service Workers for Advanced Caching

Using a service worker allows you to cache pages and assets programmatically. Tools like Workbox simplify this:

• Create a service-worker.js file defining caching strategies.
• Register the service worker in your site’s JavaScript.

Step 4: Test Cache Behavior

Use browser developer tools to inspect cache headers and test offline or slow network loading scenarios to ensure caching works as expected.

Case Study: Faster Load Times Using Cache Busting

A static blog on GitHub Pages implemented cache-busting query strings for CSS and JS assets. The change reduced stale cache issues and improved load speed on updates, leading to better user engagement.

Conclusion

While GitHub Pages has caching limitations, using versioned assets and service workers can effectively improve performance. Combining these with best practices ensures your Jekyll site is fast and reliable.