OPcache is a built-in bytecode caching extension for PHP that significantly improves performance by precompiling PHP code and storing it in memory (RAM).

⚙️ How Does OPcache Work?

Normally, every PHP request goes through:

1. Reading the PHP source file

2. Parsing and compiling it into bytecode

3. Executing the bytecode

With OPcache, this process happens only once. After the first request, PHP uses the precompiled bytecode from memory, skipping the parsing and compiling steps.

🚀 Benefits of OPcache

php -i | grep opcache.enable

Or in code:

phpinfo();

📦 Typical Configuration (php.ini)

opcache.enable=1
opcache.memory_consumption=128
opcache.interned_strings_buffer=8
opcache.max_accelerated_files=10000
opcache.validate_timestamps=1
opcache.revalidate_freq=2

💡 In production, it’s common to set opcache.validate_timestamps=0 — meaning PHP won’t check for file changes on every request. This gives even more performance, but you’ll need to manually reset the cache after code updates.

🧪 When Is OPcache Useful?

OPcache is especially helpful for:

• Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, Drupal, TYPO3

• High-traffic applications

• Large codebases

🧼 How to Clear the Cache (e.g., after a deployment)

Via PHP:

opcache_reset();

Or from the command line:

php -r "opcache_reset();"

🧠 Summary

OPcache is a simple but powerful performance booster for any PHP application. It should be enabled in every production environment — it’s free, built-in, and drastically reduces load times and server strain.