An inode refers to every file or directory on a hosting account. That includes everything from your images and content to emails and even the very folders holding them. Each file equals one (1) inode.
Managing your inode usage makes your website run smoothly and enhances performance.
You can check your inode count within your hosting control panel.
1. Log in to your hosting control panel
2. On the right hand side, under Inode you will see your total inode count
Tips for managing and reducing inodes:
1. Clear Unnecessary Emails: If you’ve been using email on through your hosting account, over time, trash, spam, and old emails can accumulate. Regularly clean out your inbox and other email folders.
2. Delete Unused Files: Periodically review the files on your hosting account. Remove any old backups, unused images, or redundant files.
3. Optimize Databases: If your site uses a database, remember that its entries also count as inodes. Regularly optimize and clean your databases, removing any unnecessary data. There are several plugins that can run database optimizations for you as well.
4. Avoid Excessive Caching Plugins: Some caching plugins store numerous temporary files, which can increase inode count. Opt for efficient caching plugins and configure them not to keep excessive cached files.