TTFB (Time to First Byte)
The time elapsed between a browser requesting a page and receiving the first byte of data from the server, measuring server responsiveness.
Understanding TTFB (Time to First Byte)
TTFB is a foundational performance metric that affects all other page speed measurements. A slow TTFB means every subsequent resource also loads late. Google uses server response time as a ranking signal, and a TTFB under 200ms is considered good. Poor TTFB often indicates server, hosting, or backend issues.
Why TTFB (Time to First Byte) Matters
TTFB is a foundational performance metric that affects all other page speed measurements. A slow TTFB means every subsequent resource also loads late. Google uses server response time as a ranking signal, and a TTFB under 200ms is considered good. Poor TTFB often indicates server, hosting, or backend issues.
Best Practices
- Use a quality hosting provider with servers near your audience
- Implement server-side caching to reduce processing time
- Use a CDN to serve content from edge locations worldwide
- Optimize database queries that slow server response
- Reduce server-side redirects that add round trips
- Monitor TTFB regularly using tools like WebPageTest or Lighthouse
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