The document introduces the WordPress Performance Team, a new working group focused on improving performance in WordPress core and the ecosystem. It analyzes why WordPress sites are often slow, such as unused JavaScript, render-blocking resources, and lack of performance guidance. The team will prioritize areas like images, JavaScript, and object caching. Interested contributors can join weekly meetings on Slack or comment on blog posts to get involved in the effort to enhance WordPress performance.

1. Felix Arntz / Toronto WebPerf Meetup, December 2021
The WordPress
Performance Team
Enhancing performance in WordPress core and ecosystem

2. May I introduce…
I am deeply excited by
this proposal!
This is a great initiative. It
might finally get the
attention it deserves.
💯 👍 for creating a contributor group
that focuses on the performance!
This is a wonderful idea. Performance is one area
where WordPress can make great strides.

3. The problem: WordPress sites are slow!

4. Analysis: Why are WordPress sites slow?
* This audit is for a diagnostic rather than an opportunity, therefore the relative
difference to opportunity audit values may be slightly skewed.
Audit Mobile (ms) Desktop (ms)
JavaScript execution time * 447,330 115,694
Modern image formats 339,810 58,320
Responsive images 165,880 44,160
Unused JavaScript 154,080 28,980
Render-blocking resources 114,386 27,888
Redirects 102,847 33,040
Mobile
Desktop

5. Complexity: Why are WordPress sites slower?
(than those from other CMSs like Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, …)
● WordPress has an open extension model
● WordPress runs in an uncontrolled environment
● WordPress lacks guidance around performance
● WordPress is “out of control”!
→ Historically, performance has often been called “plugin territory”. But for the
WordPress ecosystem to excel in performance, it has to start at the core.

6. The WordPress Performance Team is a dedicated
working group to tackle monitoring, enhancing, and
promoting performance in WordPress core and its
surrounding ecosystem.

7. Prioritizing performance focus areas
bit.ly/3ECqVu3

8. Prioritizing performance enhancements
● Images: bit.ly/3s3bckj
● JavaScript: bit.ly/3EBy2CY
● Site Health: bit.ly/3ozNWIg
● Measurement: bit.ly/3lMCtTZ
● Object caching: bit.ly/3y9gN9m

9. A centralized repository and plugin
github.com/WordPress/performance
Keep an eye out for the upcoming
WordPress performance plugin!
● A single plugin with individual
performance modules
● Test future WordPress core
performance features ahead of
time
● “Feature plugin bundle”

10. Interested? Please contribute!
● Open and discuss issues on the GitHub repository:
github.com/WordPress/performance
● Join the weekly chat (Tuesdays at 16:00 UTC):
wordpress.slack.com/archives/performance
● Read and comment on the blog posts:
make.wordpress.org/core/tag/performance/
If you’re new to WordPress, you can register at login.wordpress.org/register.
After that, join the Slack team via make.wordpress.org/chat/.

11. Thank You
Felix Arntz
@felixarntz