Gzip Compression reduces the size of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files before they are sent from the server to the browser. This significantly decreases transfer size and improves loading speed.
16.1 Overview #
When enabled, the server compresses output using the zlib module. The browser automatically decompresses the content upon receiving it.
This typically reduces file size by 60–80%.
Benefits:
- Faster page load time
- Reduced bandwidth usage
- Improved Time To First Byte (TTFB)
- Better performance scores
How It Works Internally #
- Uses the
zlibPHP extension - Adds proper
Content-Encoding: gzipheaders - Sets
Vary: Accept-Encodingheader - Applies server-level rules via
.htaccesswhen supported
16.2 Settings #
Enable Gzip Compression #
- Toggle Gzip Compression → ON
Server Requirement:
- The
zlibPHP extension must be active
If zlib is not active on the server:
- A warning notice will appear on the dashboard
- Compression will not function until the module is enabled
SpeedyGo automatically applies .htaccess rules when supported by the hosting environment.
16.3 Best Practice Recommendation #
- Enable alongside Browser Caching and Minification
- Verify compression using browser DevTools (Network → Content-Encoding)
- Clear cache after enabling for immediate application
Gzip Compression is one of the most impactful performance optimizations and should be enabled on most websites.
