Performance Monitor

See real-time performance metrics directly in your WordPress admin bar. Monitor page load time, database queries, and memory usage on every page—perfect for development, debugging, and performance optimization.

Use Cases#

• Identify slow pages that need optimization
• Monitor database query counts to catch problematic plugins
• Check memory usage to prevent limit issues
• Quick performance checks during development
• Compare performance before and after changes

Where to Find It#

When enabled, performance metrics appear in the WordPress admin bar on both frontend and backend pages. Look for the metrics display showing Time, Queries, and Memory.

What Gets Tracked#

The Performance Monitor displays three key metrics in the admin bar:

Understanding the Metrics#

Page Load Time#

The time from when WordPress starts processing to when the page finishes rendering (server-side).

Common causes of slow load times:

• Too many plugins
• Unoptimized database queries
• Large images without optimization
• External API calls
• Poor hosting

Database Queries#

The number of database queries executed to render the page.

Common causes of high query counts:

• Plugins querying on every page load
• Widgets making database calls
• Missing database indexes
• Poorly coded themes
• N+1 query problems in loops

Memory Usage#

Peak memory used during page generation.

Common causes of high memory:

• Large plugins (page builders, WooCommerce)
• Image processing
• Complex theme functions
• Caching of large datasets

Detailed Information Panel#

Click or hover on the admin bar metrics to see expanded details:

Performance Details#

• Load Time: Exact load time in seconds
• Database Queries: Total query count
• Memory Used: Memory increase during request
• Peak Memory: Maximum memory used
• Memory Limit: Your PHP memory limit setting

Environment Information#

• PHP Version: Your PHP version
• MySQL Version: Database version
• WordPress: WordPress version
• Server: Web server software

Using the Data#

Comparing Pages#

Navigate through your site and compare metrics:

1. Check your homepage metrics
2. Visit various pages and posts
3. Note which pages have unusual numbers
4. Focus optimization on problem pages

Before/After Testing#

When making changes:

1. Note current metrics on a page
2. Make your change (disable plugin, update code, etc.)
3. Hard refresh the page (Ctrl+Shift+R)
4. Compare new metrics to previous

Identifying Problem Plugins#

To find resource-heavy plugins:

1. Note metrics with all plugins active
2. Deactivate plugins one at a time
3. Refresh and check metrics after each
4. Identify plugins causing spikes

Visibility#

The Performance Monitor only displays for:

• Logged-in users with admin capabilities (manage_options)
• Regular visitors never see the metrics
• No performance impact on public pages (metrics aren’t calculated for logged-out users)

Color Coding#

Metrics are color-coded for quick assessment:

• Green: Good performance, no action needed
• Yellow: Warning, could be improved
• Red: Problem area, investigate and optimize

This lets you spot issues at a glance while navigating your site.

Admin vs Frontend#

Metrics display on both:

• Admin pages: Check dashboard, editor, and settings page performance
• Frontend pages: Monitor actual visitor experience

Admin pages typically show more queries and higher memory use due to admin functionality loading.

Limitations#

The Performance Monitor shows:

• Server-side metrics only: JavaScript execution, image loading, and client-side rendering aren’t measured
• Single request: Doesn’t track AJAX requests or external resources
• Current request: No historical data or trends

For comprehensive performance analysis, pair this with browser developer tools and external testing services like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights.

FAQ#