Overview
The following describes how GZIP is enabled at DreamHost.
FAQs
What is GZIP Compression?
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GZIP Compression is a method to improve how fast a website loads. It accomplishes this by reducing the size of certain files. For example, a 1 MB web page may be compressed to 800 KB, allowing it to be loaded much faster. In this way, compressing files can make a significant difference.
When would I use GZIP compression?
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You may be instructed to compress with GZIP to optimize the speed of your website, especially if you use tools such as GTMetrix, Pingdom, or Google's PageSpeed Insights.
Does DreamHost enable GZIP Compression?
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DreamHost enables GZIP compression by default on all web hosting plans, so you do not need to take any further steps to turn it on for your site.
However, please note that SSLCompression is disabled when using an SSL certificate. This is due to a security vulnerability when compression is combined with HTTPS .
Why does my site optimization tool tell me to enable GZIP?
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There are a few reasons why some website analyzer services may tell you that you need to compress some files with GZIP even though it is already enabled for your HTTP site.
- Third-party URLs — The URLs the tool reports are for a third-party site, not your domain. You would need to check with the third-party site for more details.
- Your site uses an SSL certificate — Your website is configured to load securely over HTTPS instead of HTTP. Due to a security vulnerability, GZIP is disabled for HTTPS links.
- .htaccess file — You may have an .htaccess file on your site that overrides GZIP compression. Temporarily rename the file to .htaccess_off to check if it is causing the issue.