How to Improve HTTP Response Header In WordPress

A text record information that a Web server transmits back to a client’s browser in response to receive an HTTP request. The HTTP response header includes file formate, size, and time that the server sends back to the client and data about the server itself. The header is attached to that file, returned to the client. In this article, we will discuss three methods.

Modify HTTP Response Header In WP Theme Source Code (header.php, function.php)

  1. Header.php

Install any WordPress theme editor if you don’t have a built-in function in your active Theme.

  • Click on Appearance — Theme Editor menu and select your WordPress Active Theme.
  • Select your WordPress website active Theme and select the header.php file.

header.php and function.php

 

Add the below code at the beginning of the header.php file before <!DOCTYPE html>. This code makes use of the PHP header function to create or set related header values.

<?php
unset($headers['Vary']);
header('Vary:Accept-Encoding', true);
?>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html <?php language_attributes( 'html' ); ?>>
<head>

 

Note:- Some lines in source code already exist. In that case, you have to copy extra lines from the given code to avoid duplications and conflicts.

2. Function.php

Find the function.php (the method is same as you installed them editor and located header.php)

Place the below code in the function.php

function replace_wp_headers($headers) {
  $headers['Vary'] = 'Accept-Encoding';
  return $headers;
}
add_filter('wp_headers', replace_wp_headers);

Note: – You can edit these files using an FTP client like Filezilla or through cPanel file manager. Some lines in source code already exist. In that case, you have to copy extra lines from the given code to avoid duplications and conflicts. You have to go to your website’s root directory > wp-content > themes > your active theme.

Check out: How to Stop DDoS Attacks on your WordPress website

3 .htaccess file

This method is not at all times functional because plugins can modify headers value PHP source code. Anyways if you want to use this method in any case. Just copy the below code in your .htaccess file and save.

<IfModule mod_headers.c>
   Header unset Vary
   Header set Vary "Accept-Encoding"
</IfModule>

.htaccess

Note:- .htaccess file is located in the website’s root directory, which can be accessed by using FTP client or cPanel. Always check your website’s functionality after adding any source codes. In any case, you find your website is not responding, remove the code, and save the file. This is just because, in some cases, the source codes don’t work because of any active plugin or “maybe you added the code which is missing any syntax.”

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