When does WP Rocket delete which files?

Below, you'll find the specific triggers which cause the contents of each of WP Rocket's folders or tables to be deleted.

💡In some cases 3rd party plugins/themes/hosts could also be using our “clean” functions in their code.

/cache/wp-rocket/www.example.com/

• When WP Rocket settings are changed: That is, when activating and deactivating features that affect the frontend of the site, and when editing their exclusions. 
• Clear Cache lifespan
• Only files older than the specified lifespan will be deleted. 
• Automatic triggers:
  • See our guide: How Often is the Cache Updated
  • View the related code on GitHub
• Manual triggering of Clear Cache (from the WP Rocket admin toolbar, or WP Rocket Dashboard tab)
• When the cache is cleared by calling rocket_clean_domain.
• Can also be triggered by hosting/caching compatibilities to keep the caches in sync (e.g. on WP Engine and others).
• When Elementor’s CSS Print Method is set to External File, if a post or the Elementor CSS of a post is updated.
• Updating WP Rocket, depending on the type of changes included in the new version.
• After the dynamic lists of exclusions are automatically imported each week.
• When the Used CSS (from the Remove Unused CSS option) has been cleared, manually or automatically.
• When the Priority Elements have been cleared

Related function: rocket_clean_domain.

/cache/min/

• Manual triggering of Clear Cache (from the WP Rocket admin toolbar, or WP Rocket Dashboard tab).
• Deactivation of Minify CSS files or Minify JavaScript files, not Combine JavaScript files.
• Is NOT deleted when Clear Cache lifespan is triggered or via a cron job using ONLY rocket_clean_domain.
• Is deleted when clearing cache is triggered via a cron job using rocket_clean_domain AND rocket_clean_minify.
• Beaver builder cache clear.
• When Elementor's CSS Print Method is set to External File, and the Elementor CSS in a post is updated, the CSS files in this folder are deleted.

Related function: rocket_clean_minify.

/cache/busting/

• Manual triggering of Clear Cache (from the WP Rocket admin toolbar, or WP Rocket Dashboard tab).
• ⚠️ Is NOT deleted when Clear Cache lifespan is triggered or  via a cron job using rocket_clean_domain.
• When Elementor's CSS Print Method is set to External File, and the Elementor CSS in a post is updated, the CSS files in this folder are deleted.

Related function: rocket_clean_cache_busting.

/cache/critical-css/

•    When the theme is changed.
•    When Load CSS Asynchronously is enabled.
•    When a regeneration of Critical Path CSS is triggered.

Related function: clean_critical_css().

/cache/used-css/

• Manual triggering of Clear Used CSS via the WP Rocket toolbar menu.
• Switching themes.
• Changing the items added to Remove Unused CSS's CSS safelist text area.

For specific pages/posts:

• Editing a post/page.
• Editing/deleting terms.
• When the comment count changes.

/cache/background-css/

• When rocket_clean_domain is used.

wpr_above_the_fold

Entries of this table are purged when:

• The permalinks are changed.
• The theme is switched.
• After updating a post.

As part of the Optimize critical images' automatic clearing of images.

wpr_lazy_render_content

Entries of this table are purged when:

• The permalinks are changed.
• The theme is switched.
• After updating a post.

As per the automatic purge of the Automatic Lazy Rendering option.