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Performance functions optimize the WordPress site by removing unnecessary features and reducing HTTP requests.

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Performance Optimization

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sancho_optimize_performance()

Removes unnecessary WordPress features and disables emojis to optimize site performance. Location: inc/performance.php:10
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return
void
This function does not return a value. It removes various WordPress actions.
Optimizations Applied:
  1. Removes WordPress Generator Meta Tag
    • Action: wp_head → wp_generator
    • Hides WordPress version from HTML source
    • Minor security improvement
  2. Removes Windows Live Writer Manifest Link
    • Action: wp_head → wlwmanifest_link
    • Removes link to wlwmanifest.xml
    • Not needed for most sites
  3. Removes Really Simple Discovery (RSD) Link
    • Action: wp_head → rsd_link
    • Removes link to xmlrpc.php discovery
    • Reduces attack surface if XML-RPC not used
  4. Disables Emoji Detection Script
    • Action: wp_head → print_emoji_detection_script (priority 7)
    • Removes ~12KB JavaScript file
    • Browsers natively support emojis now
  5. Disables Emoji Styles
    • Action: wp_print_styles → print_emoji_styles
    • Removes inline emoji CSS
    • Reduces HTML bloat
Hook: Automatically added to init action 
// Optimizations are automatically applied
add_action('init', 'sancho_optimize_performance');

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Performance Impact

These optimizations provide measurable improvements:

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Removed HTTP Requests

  • ❌ wp-emoji-release.min.js (~12KB)
  • ❌ Emoji inline styles (~2KB)
  • ❌ Various meta tags and links

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Page Weight Reduction

  • Approximately 14-16KB saved per page load
  • Cleaner HTML source code
  • Fewer DNS lookups for emoji CDN

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Additional Performance Optimizations

Consider implementing these additional optimizations:

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Disable Embeds

Remove oEmbed functionality if not needed: 
function disable_embeds() {
    // Remove embed JavaScript
    remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_oembed_add_discovery_links');
    remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_oembed_add_host_js');
    
    // Remove embed REST API endpoint
    remove_action('rest_api_init', 'wp_oembed_register_route');
    
    // Turn off oEmbed auto discovery
    add_filter('embed_oembed_discover', '__return_false');
    
    // Remove oEmbed-specific JavaScript from the front-end
    remove_filter('the_content', array($GLOBALS['wp_embed'], 'autoembed'), 8);
}
add_action('init', 'disable_embeds');

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Remove Query Strings

Remove version query strings from static resources: 
function remove_script_version($src) {
    if (strpos($src, 'ver=')) {
        $src = remove_query_arg('ver', $src);
    }
    return $src;
}
add_filter('style_loader_src', 'remove_script_version', 15);
add_filter('script_loader_src', 'remove_script_version', 15);

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Defer JavaScript

Defer non-critical JavaScript: 
function defer_scripts($tag, $handle, $src) {
    // List of scripts to defer
    $defer_scripts = array(
        'jquery',
        'contact-form-script',
        'custom-scripts'
    );
    
    if (in_array($handle, $defer_scripts)) {
        return '<script src="' . $src . '" defer></script>';
    }
    
    return $tag;
}
add_filter('script_loader_tag', 'defer_scripts', 10, 3);

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Lazy Load Images

Enable native lazy loading: 
function add_lazy_loading($content) {
    // Add loading="lazy" to images
    $content = preg_replace(
        '/<img(.*?)src=/i',
        '<img$1loading="lazy" src=',
        $content
    );
    return $content;
}
add_filter('the_content', 'add_lazy_loading');
add_filter('post_thumbnail_html', 'add_lazy_loading');

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Disable Dashicons for Non-Admin Users

Remove Dashicons CSS on frontend: 
function disable_dashicons_frontend() {
    if (!is_user_logged_in()) {
        wp_deregister_style('dashicons');
    }
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'disable_dashicons_frontend');

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Limit Post Revisions

Add to wp-config.php: 
// Limit post revisions
define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', 3);

// Set autosave interval to 5 minutes
define('AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL', 300);

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Enable GZIP Compression

Add to .htaccess: 
<IfModule mod_deflate.c>
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/css
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/javascript
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/xml
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/plain
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE image/x-icon
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE image/svg+xml
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/rss+xml
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/javascript
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-javascript
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/xml
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/xhtml+xml
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-truetype
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-ttf
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-otf
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-opentype
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/vnd.ms-fontobject
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE font/ttf
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE font/otf
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE font/opentype
</IfModule>

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Browser Caching

Add to .htaccess: 
<IfModule mod_expires.c>
    ExpiresActive On
    
    # Images
    ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/gif "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/webp "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/svg+xml "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/x-icon "access plus 1 year"
    
    # Video
    ExpiresByType video/mp4 "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType video/mpeg "access plus 1 year"
    
    # CSS, JavaScript
    ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 1 month"
    ExpiresByType text/javascript "access plus 1 month"
    ExpiresByType application/javascript "access plus 1 month"
    
    # Fonts
    ExpiresByType font/ttf "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType font/otf "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType font/woff "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType font/woff2 "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType application/font-woff "access plus 1 year"
    
    # Default
    ExpiresDefault "access plus 2 days"
</IfModule>

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Performance Testing

Measure performance improvements using these tools:

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Testing Tools

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Monitoring

// Log page generation time
function log_page_generation_time() {
    if (WP_DEBUG) {
        $time = timer_stop(0, 3);
        $queries = get_num_queries();
        error_log("Page generated in {$time} seconds using {$queries} queries");
    }
}
add_action('wp_footer', 'log_page_generation_time');

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Database Optimization

// Clean up post meta on post deletion
function cleanup_post_meta($post_id) {
    global $wpdb;
    $wpdb->delete(
        $wpdb->postmeta,
        array('post_id' => $post_id),
        array('%d')
    );
}
add_action('before_delete_post', 'cleanup_post_meta');

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Performance Best Practices

  1. Use a Caching Plugin
    • WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or WP Super Cache
    • Implement object caching with Redis or Memcached
  2. Optimize Images
    • Use WebP format
    • Compress images before upload
    • Implement lazy loading
  3. Use a CDN
    • Cloudflare, StackPath, or BunnyCDN
    • Distribute static assets globally
  4. Minimize Database Queries
    • Use transients for expensive queries
    • Implement proper indexing
  5. Keep WordPress Updated
    • Update core, themes, and plugins regularly
    • Remove unused plugins and themes
// Example: Cache expensive query
function get_popular_posts() {
    $cache_key = 'popular_posts_' . get_current_blog_id();
    $posts = get_transient($cache_key);
    
    if (false === $posts) {
        $posts = new WP_Query(array(
            'post_type' => 'post',
            'posts_per_page' => 10,
            'meta_key' => 'post_views',
            'orderby' => 'meta_value_num',
            'order' => 'DESC'
        ));
        
        // Cache for 1 hour
        set_transient($cache_key, $posts, HOUR_IN_SECONDS);
    }
    
    return $posts;
}

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