Introduction

Web performance is no longer optional.
It directly affects:

• search engine ranking
• conversion rates
• user retention
• perceived quality
• accessibility
• global user experience

In the 2010s, developers often built first, optimized later.
But today’s applications are too complex, and users too impatient, for that approach.

Performance now must be built into the architecture. Not an add-on.

This is why modern frameworks and platforms—from Next.js to Astro to Nuxt to SvelteKit—prioritize:

Cloudflare improves performance out of the box, but thoughtful configuration can push your site (especially a Hugo/JAMstack site) to exceptional global performance.
This final chapter gathers Cloudflare’s performance-focused features into a calm, practical playbook. Each recommendation is designed to be simple to understand and safe to apply.

1. The Three Layers of Cloudflare Performance

Cloudflare performance can be thought of as three layers:

1. Global Network & Routing

Anycast routing, edge proximity, Argo Smart Routing.

Cloudflare’s CDN and caching layer is one of the platform’s greatest strengths. For static sites like Hugo, it delivers global performance with almost no configuration. Yet understanding how Cloudflare caches, when it bypasses the cache, and how to fine-tune caching behavior will help you create a site that stays consistently fast for users across the world.

This chapter provides a calm, practical explanation of Cloudflare’s CDN architecture and the tools available for controlling cache behavior: Cache Rules, Page Rules, Transform Rules, and more.