Browser caching is a simple way to reduce the number of HTTP requests from a users browser to your server, thus improving loading times, website performance and even the user experience. Reducing all these areas helps you score points with SEO! 

How is this done you ask? Well, it is very simple. All that is required is that you place this code in a .htaccess file in your root directory. 

# BEGIN Expire headers
<ifModule mod_expires.c>
  ExpiresActive On
  ExpiresDefault "access plus 1 seconds"
  ExpiresByType image/x-icon "access plus 2592000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 2592000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 2592000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType image/gif "access plus 2592000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType application/x-shockwave-flash "access plus 2592000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 604800 seconds"
  ExpiresByType text/javascript "access plus 216000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType application/javascript "access plus 216000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType application/x-javascript "access plus 216000 seconds"
  ExpiresByType text/html "access plus 600 seconds"
  ExpiresByType application/xhtml+xml "access plus 600 seconds"
</ifModule>
# END Expire headers
 
# BEGIN Cache-Control Headers
<ifModule mod_headers.c>
  <filesMatch "\.(ico|jpe?g|png|gif|swf)$">
    Header set Cache-Control "max-age=2592000, public"
  </filesMatch>
  <filesMatch "\.(css)$">
    Header set Cache-Control "max-age=604800, public"
  </filesMatch>
  <filesMatch "\.(js)$">
    Header set Cache-Control "max-age=2592000, private"
  </filesMatch>
  <filesMatch "\.(x?html?|php)$">
    Header set Cache-Control "max-age=600, private, must-revalidate"
  </filesMatch>
</ifModule>
# END Cache-Control Headers
 
# BEGIN Turn ETags Off
<ifModule mod_headers.c>
  Header unset ETag
</ifModule>
FileETag None
# END Turn ETags Off

Finding your .htaccess file

There are several ways that you can find your .htacess file.

cPanel

Access your server cPanel and navigate to your File manager. Once there choose the Web Root option and make sure the Show Hidden Files option is checked! 

FTP

Using our Direct FTP or Free FTP program you can locate your .htaccess file just as easily. :)

Connect to your server and navigate to your root directory. Under the View Menu make sure Show Hidden Files is checked.

Then all you have to do is download your .htaccess file and add the code above! This insures that your main static files such as images, CSS and JavaScripts are cached so your user experiences faster loading times. Simple right?