What are Inodes and Why are They Important for Your Website?

Have you ever wondered what inodes are and how they help in managing the files on your website? Inodes are a fundamental concept in website infrastructure, and they help in keeping track of all the files that are present on a server. However, on WordPress websites, having a large number of files can cause significant issues with the site’s performance due to high inodes count. In this article, we will explore how to effectively reduce inodes in WordPress without compromising the site’s functionality.

Step 1: Identify High Inodes Count Files

Start by identifying the files that are causing the high inodes count on your website. You can access your website’s files using cPanel or an FTP client and check their inode count. Once identified, you can take the necessary steps to reduce the inodes count.

Step 2: Remove Unnecessary Plugins and Themes

WordPress plugins and themes contribute significantly to the inodes count, and removing unused ones can significantly reduce it. The high inodes count can lead to website performance issues, and it is best to uninstall plugins that are not up-to-date as they can lead to security vulnerabilities.

Step 3: Optimize Images

Images take up a lot of server space and can increase the inodes count significantly. Optimize images before uploading them to your website using online image optimizers or plugins such as WP Smush or Optimole. Optimization reduces image size without losing quality.

Step 4: Delete Unused Media Files

Unused media files such as images, videos, and audio files can also contribute to the high inodes count. It is essential to delete any unused media files from your website’s server using a plugin like Media Cleaner. Removing unused media files can significantly reduce the inodes count.

Step 5: Use a CDN

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) can lower the inodes count by distributing files across multiple servers globally. It reduces the burden on your server and improves website performance.

Step 6: Limit Post Revisions and Spam Folders

WordPress automatically saves post revisions, and these revisions significantly contribute to the inodes count. Limit the number of post revisions using plugins like WP-Revisions. Spam comments are saved in the website’s spam folder and can also contribute to high inodes. Use Akismet to automatically delete spam comments and reduce your website’s inodes count.

Step 7: Use Gzip Compression

Gzip compression is a technique used to compress server files and reduce their size. By compressing files, it reduces the inodes count and helps in improving website performance. Use plugins like WP Fastest Cache or WP Rocket to enable Gzip compression on your website.

Conclusion

Reducing inodes in WordPress is crucial for website performance, and it is essential to monitor the inodes count regularly. Follow the above steps, or engage the services of a professional WordPress expert to ensure your site runs optimally. By reducing inodes, you can significantly improve website performance and reduce the burden on the server.