How to improve page load speed in PrestaShop?

@susan 

Improving page load speed in PrestaShop involves several optimizations. Here are some strategies you can implement:

1. Enable Caching: Go to the PrestaShop back office, navigate to "Advanced Parameters" > "Performance," and enable caching. Memcached, APC, or Xcache can be used depending on your server configuration.
2. Optimize Images: Use tools like TinyPNG or ImageMagick to compress images without losing quality. Serve images in next-gen formats like WebP if supported.
3. Minify CSS and JavaScript: Minifying CSS and JavaScript files reduces their file size, improving load times. Use the built-in PrestaShop tool found in "Advanced Parameters" > "Performance" to enable CCC (Combine, Compress and Cache).
4. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Implement a CDN to serve static content from locations closer to the user, which reduces latency. Popular options include Cloudflare, Fastly, or KeyCDN.
5. Optimize the Database: Regularly clean up your database by removing old logs, carts, and unnecessary data. Consider using modules that manage database optimization.
6. Use Fast Hosting: Ensure your hosting environment is optimized for PrestaShop. Consider using SSD hosting and ensuring the server has adequate resources for your store’s traffic.
7. Leverage Browser Caching: Configure your server to specify caching rules, so repeat visitors can load resources from their cache rather than downloading them again. Modify your .htaccess file to include caching headers for various file types.
8. Enable GZIP Compression: Check that GZIP compression is enabled on your server to reduce the size of the files sent from the server to the browser.
9. Reduce HTTP Requests: Limit the number of files needed for a page to load. Combine multiple CSS or JS files into one, and limit external requests.
10. Keep PrestaShop and Modules Updated:

• Ensure you are using the latest version of PrestaShop and all its modules, as updates often include performance improvements.

1. Deactivate Unused Modules and Features:

• Disable modules and features that you do not use, as they can slow down the site even if they’re not actively used.

1. Optimize Server Configuration:

• Fine-tune your server settings for performance. This might include optimizing PHP settings, database settings (like MySQL’s query cache), and ensuring that your server is updated with the latest software versions.

1. Improve Front-End Performance:

• Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to analyze your site’s performance and follow their recommendations to improve front-end loading speed.

By implementing these strategies, you should see a noticeable improvement in your PrestaShop store's page load speed. It’s essential to continuously monitor and adjust these settings as your store and traffic evolve.