ProRank SEO
Docs/Performance/Database Optimisation

Database Optimisation

Comprehensive database cleanup, optimisation, and maintenance for peak WordPress performance

Free Feature

Overview

ProRank SEO's Database Optimisation provides enterprise-grade tools to clean, optimise, and maintain your WordPress database. Remove unnecessary data, optimise table structures, manage options and cron jobs, and keep your site running at peak performance with automated maintenance and intelligent cleanup algorithms.

50% Smaller

Reduce database size dramatically with intelligent cleanup

40% Faster

Improve query performance with optimised tables

Safe Cleanup

Manual backup via the Create Backup button

Enterprise Features

Database Optimisation includes advanced features like orphaned data detection, intelligent table optimisation, autoload management, and comprehensive backup/restore capabilities.

Quick Start

1

Access Database Optimisation

Navigate to ProRank SEO → Performance → Database & Server

2

Create Backup

Create a backup before major cleanup operations using the Create Backup button

3

Run Safe Cleanup

Start with spam comments, expired transients, and orphaned data

4

Optimise Tables

Run table optimisation to reclaim space and improve performance

Database Cleanup

Posts & Pages

  • Post Revisions (keeps the most recent per post, default limit: 5)
  • Auto-drafts and abandoned drafts
  • Trashed posts and pages

Comments

  • Spam comments (always safe)
  • Trashed and pending comments
  • Pingbacks and trackbacks

Orphaned Data

  • Post, comment, user, and term metadata
  • Broken term relationships
  • Abandoned plugin/theme data

Transients

  • Expired transients (always safe)
  • All transients (for troubleshooting)
  • Abandoned timeout records

Table Management

Table Operations

Optimise

Reclaim space, rebuild indexes, improve query performance

Repair

Fix corrupted tables, resolve crashes, restore integrity

Convert

Upgrade MyISAM to InnoDB for better performance

Smart Detection

Tables with reclaimable overhead of at least 8 MB or 5% of total table size are flagged for optimisation. Core WordPress tables are protected and marked for identification.

Options Management

Autoload Optimisation

WordPress loads all autoloaded options on every page request. Keep this under 1MB for optimal performance.

Should Autoload

  • Core site settings
  • Active theme options
  • Essential plugin settings

Should NOT Autoload

  • Large cache data
  • Analytics/statistics
  • Backup configurations

Cron Jobs Management

Manage WordPress scheduled tasks, remove orphaned jobs from deleted plugins, and fix scheduling conflicts.

Find Orphaned

Detect jobs from removed plugins

Remove Stuck

Clear jobs that never complete

Fix Schedule

Resolve duplicate job issues

Backup & Restore

Backup & Restore

Create a backup before running cleanup to ensure safety

  • • Before cleanup operations
  • • Before table optimisation
  • • Before bulk deletions
  • • ProRank keeps the 10 most recent backups

Easy Restore

One-click restoration from any backup point

  • • Preview before restore
  • • Selective restoration
  • • Verify integrity
  • • Rollback capability

Important

Always verify your backup before performing major cleanup operations. Use the Create Backup button before cleanup, then having an external backup provides additional safety.

Configuration

Cleanup & Retention Settings

// Database Cleanup Settings (ProRank SEO > Performance > Database & Server)

// Automatic Cleanup: ON/OFF
// Cleanup Schedule: Daily / Weekly / Monthly
// Cleanup Items: Select which data types to clean

// Action Scheduler Retention (days): 7 (default)
// WP Mail SMTP Log Retention (days): 30 (default)

// Backup: Manual via "Create Backup" button
// ProRank keeps the 10 most recent backups automatically

Automation Options

Cleanup Schedule

  • • Daily (high-traffic sites)
  • • Weekly (recommended)
  • • Monthly (low-traffic sites)
  • • Disabled (manual only)

Cleanup Items

  • • Safe items only
  • • Include revisions
  • • Include drafts
  • • Full cleanup

Expected Results

30-50%
Database Size Reduction
20-40%
Query Speed Improvement
15-30%
Overall Performance Boost
40-50%
Faster Backup Times

Best Practices

Maintenance Schedule

DAILY

Clean expired transients, remove spam

WEEKLY

Clean revisions, optimise high-traffic tables

MONTHLY

Full cleanup, optimise all tables, review options

Safety Checklist

Troubleshooting

High database size despite cleanup

Check for large options, plugin data in custom tables, or accumulated logs.

Solution: Review largest tables, check options size, look for log tables

Operation timeout errors

Large operations may exceed PHP execution limits.

Solution: Break into smaller operations, increase PHP timeout, run during low traffic

Cannot delete certain items

May be due to permissions or foreign key constraints.

Solution: Check user permissions, review error logs, try during low-traffic period

CLI Commands

WP-CLI Integration

Database optimisation is available in the Free tier. One WP-CLI command is available for automation.

# Run database optimization (analysis + optional cleanup)
wp prorank db-optimize

Related Documentation