SEO Booster offers two distinct methods for processing and injecting keywords into your content:
Standard Processing Method
The standard method uses WordPress’s built-in filters and hooks to process content at the element level. This approach:
– Processes content piece by piece (per paragraph, block, or content element)
– Integrates naturally with WordPress’s content flow
– Works well for simple content structures
– May require more processing time on complex pages with many blocks or elements
Output Buffering Method
The output buffering method processes the entire page’s content at once, similar to how caching plugins work. This approach:
– Processes the complete page content in a single pass
– Can be more efficient for complex pages
– Particularly beneficial for sites using the Block Editor (Gutenberg)
– May provide better performance when dealing with numerous content elements
Performance Considerations
While it might seem counterintuitive, the output buffering method can sometimes be faster than the standard approach, especially on modern WordPress sites. Here’s why:
- Block Editor Complexity: On pages built with the Block Editor, content is split into many individual blocks. The standard method needs to process each block separately, which can add up quickly on content-rich pages.
- Processing Overhead: The standard method requires multiple safety checks for each content piece to prevent issues like nested links or incorrect modifications to image descriptions. When processing hundreds of small content pieces, these checks multiply significantly.
- Site-Specific Performance: The actual performance difference between the two methods will vary depending on:
- Your site’s content structure
- The number of blocks and elements on your pages
- Server resources and configuration
- Overall site complexity
For most visitors, any performance difference will be negligible, especially if you’re using a caching plugin, as they’ll be served the cached version of your pages.