Website Health
The technical basics that keep a WordPress site reliable.
By the Vulo Labs team · Last updated
What does WordPress Site Health check?
WordPress website health covers whether WordPress, PHP, plugins and themes are up to date, whether the database is tidy, whether scheduled tasks (WP-Cron) run on time, whether the server is configured well and whether you have backups you can actually restore. WordPress includes a basic Site Health screen under Tools; a Health Score tracks it over time.
What health covers
Is WordPress up to date, is the database tidy, are scheduled tasks running, and is the server set up well.
Backups are health too
A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a plan. Make automatic backups, and know how to restore.
Make it visible
A Health Score and timeline show whether the site is getting better or worse so problems do not stay hidden.
Key takeaways
- Update on schedule
- Automate backups
- Practice restoring
- Track the score
Website Health: frequently asked questions
Back up at least daily for sites that change often, such as stores, and weekly for mostly static sites. Keep at least one copy off the server.
WP-Cron is WordPress's scheduler for tasks such as publishing scheduled posts and running backups. It runs when someone visits the site, so very quiet sites can run tasks late.
Updates usually fix bugs and security issues, so stay current. Take a backup first, and test major updates on a staging site if your site is business-critical.
Sources and further reading
Know your site is okay, and recover if it isn't.