Shopware Performance Analysis & Optimization
Loading time is money. Studies show: Every second of delay costs up to 7% conversion. In addition, Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS) are an official ranking factor at Google. A professional Shopware Performance Analysis identifies the brakes in your shop and solves them.
Holistic Performance Optimization
I do not view your shop in isolation but as a complete system. My optimization covers three levels:
1. Server & Infrastructure (Backend)
Here the "Time to First Byte" (TTFB) is decided. I optimize:
- PHP & MySQL: Tuning of PHP-FPM workers, OPcache, and MySQL indices for fast database queries.
- Caching: Setup of Varnish or integrated HTTP cache as well as Redis for session handling.
- Elasticsearch: Implementation of Elasticsearch for lightning-fast search results and category listings for large assortments.
2. Code & Plugins (Application)
Often individual, poorly programmed plugins slow down the entire shop. I analyze the code with profiling tools (e.g., Tideways, Blackfire) to find and refactor "performance hogs".
3. Storefront (Frontend)
For the user experience in the browser, I optimize:
- Asset Optimization: Minification of CSS/JS and use of modern image formats (WebP/AVIF).
- Lazy Loading: Images and content are only loaded when they are visible.
- Core Web Vitals: Stabilization of the layout (less CLS) and acceleration of rendering (LCP).
Performance is not a one-time project, but a process. I help you keep your shop permanently fast – even with growing visitor numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Performance (FAQ)
- Why is my Shopware 6 shop so slow?
- Common causes are: Disabled HTTP cache, too many or poorly programmed plugins, missing database indices, overly large images, or undersized hosting.
- What is TTFB and why is it important?
- TTFB (Time to First Byte) measures the server's response time. A high TTFB (> 600ms) indicates problems with PHP, the database, or caching. Google uses this as a ranking factor.
- How do I optimize images in Shopware 6?
- Use modern formats like WebP or AVIF. Shopware offers extensions or built-in functions for this. It is also important to provide thumbnails in the appropriate sizes for different devices.
- What does the HTTP cache do in Shopware?
- The HTTP cache stores finished HTML pages so that Shopware does not have to recalculate them for every request. This reduces loading time from seconds to milliseconds. It is essential for live operation.
- What hosting do I need for Shopware 6?
- Shopware 6 requires high-performance hosting. Recommended are Nginx, PHP 8.2+, MySQL 8.0+/MariaDB 10.11+, Elasticsearch (for large assortments), and Redis (for caching/sessions).
- Do I need Elasticsearch?
- For small shops, MySQL is often sufficient. From a few thousand products or complex filter requirements, Elasticsearch is strongly recommended to guarantee fast search and listing times.
- How do I find performance bottlenecks?
- We use tools like the Symfony Profiler, Tideways, or Blackfire.io to see exactly which method or database query consumes how much time.
- Do many plugins slow down the shop?
- Yes, every plugin executes code. Especially plugins that hook into the "Cart Process" or events like "ProductPageLoaded" can noticeably depress performance. We check the quality of your plugins.
- What is Varnish Cache?
- Varnish is an HTTP accelerator placed in front of the web server. It is extremely fast and is recommended for high-traffic shops.
- Does a CDN (Content Delivery Network) help?
- A CDN (e.g., Cloudflare) helps to deliver static assets (images, CSS, JS) faster worldwide and relieve the server. It is a useful addition.