How JCH Optimize Pro changes page delivery

JCH Optimize Pro is the paid edition of JCH Optimize. It works with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and page caching to reduce browser downloads and the requests needed to render a page. Its settings can support work on First Contentful Paint, Largest Contentful Paint, Speed Index, Cumulative Layout Shift, Time to Interactive, and Total Blocking Time. Automatic settings apply recommended strategies, while Pro includes options for websites that need more control over resource delivery.

File and loading settings

The plugin can minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript by removing unnecessary whitespace and other characters. It can combine CSS and JavaScript documents and manage the resulting output. Critical CSS and JavaScript can be placed inline; non-critical resources can be deferred to reduce render-blocking activity.

• Lazy-load offscreen and hidden images, and add width and height attributes to help reduce layout shifts.
• Preload critical resources identified for individual pages.
• Enable text compression with server instructions in the site's .htaccess file.
• Use page caching to reduce initial server response time and improve time to first byte.

Pro options and website fit

Pro includes HTTP/2 support, unused CSS removal, lazy-loading for iframes, image optimization, multiple domains for a CDN, and access to the Optimize Image API. Other tools include a Sprite Generator, image attributes, CDN or cookieless domain settings, and CSS delivery optimization.

These controls may suit sites where stylesheets, scripts, images, or other page elements affect loading behavior. They can support work on PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix results and be used alongside existing caching functions. Since combining can conflict with particular files or extensions, exclusion settings let you leave those items out and test the remaining changes on the site.

A subscription includes premium technical support through a ticket system, help configuring the extension to resolve conflicts and improve performance, and access to downloads of new versions.

Installation and first configuration

1. Install and activate JCH Optimize Pro.
2. Temporarily deactivate existing page caching features and extensions.
3. Start with Automatic Settings, from Minimum through Optimum, to configure CSS and JavaScript combining and related groups.
4. Test the site, then add optimization features individually according to its needs.
5. Use exclusions for files or plugins that conflict with combination settings.
6. Flush all caches before re-enabling other caching features and plugins.

To check whether combining is active, view the page source in a browser. The aggregated CSS and JavaScript file URL should replace the original file links.