Title: Time to First Byte (TTFB) Author: Kriko Published: Apr 20, 2021 Last modified: Jul 11, 2026 --- 1. [Home](https://kriko.io/) / 2. [Glossary](https://kriko.io/glossary) / 3. T Letter # Time to First Byte **(TTFB)** **Time to First Byte**, commonly abbreviated as TTFB, refers to the time between a browser sending a request to a web server and receiving the first byte of data in response. It is an important technical metric used to evaluate server response performance. However, TTFB is not the same as the total page load time. It measures the beginning of the server response, not the completion of the full page rendering process. When a user types a web address into the browser or clicks a link, several processes take place in the background. DNS resolution, connection setup, TLS negotiation for secure connections, sending the browser request and generating the server response can all be part of this process. TTFB mainly helps determine how quickly the server can begin responding. A high TTFB may indicate a delay on the server side or somewhere in the network path. There are several possible causes of high TTFB. Limited server resources, heavy traffic, slow database queries, unnecessary redirects, poor hosting infrastructure, missing cache configuration and lack of CDN usage can all increase response time. Dynamically generated pages may also have a higher TTFB than static pages because the server needs more time to build the content. For this reason, TTFB should be evaluated according to the website architecture, content type and technology stack. A low TTFB is important for user experience because it allows the browser to start building the page earlier. TTFB does not explain total page speed by itself, but it can affect user experience metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint. Since users are more likely to leave slow-loading pages, optimising server response time is valuable for SEO, conversion rate and overall site performance. However, the ideal TTFB value may vary depending on the website type, infrastructure and user location. TTFB can be improved by increasing server performance, using caching and optimising database queries. CDN usage can help reduce response time by serving content from servers closer to users. Reducing unnecessary redirects, simplifying backend code and improving hosting infrastructure are also important optimisation areas. A properly optimised **TTFB** helps a website respond faster, improves user experience and supports healthier performance metrics. ## Discover it in the dictionary ### Indexing Indexing is the process by which search engines add crawled and evaluated web pages to their own index. For a page to appear in… ### DevOps DevOps is a methodology used to improve collaboration between software development and IT operations teams. The term "DevOps" is derived from the words "Development"… ### Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is an observation and prioritization approach suggesting that a large share of outcomes often comes… ### Application Programming Interface (API) An Application Programming Interface, commonly abbreviated as API, is a software interface that allows controlled access to specific functions of an application, service, operating… ### Behavioural Targeting Behavioural targeting is a digital marketing method that uses signals from users' behaviour across websites, mobile applications, search engines, social media or other digital… ### External Link An external link, also called an outbound link, is a link from one website to another website. These links direct the user from the… ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Frequently Asked Questions, commonly abbreviated as FAQ, refers to a content section where the most common questions about a product, service, process or website… ### Prescriptive Analytics Prescriptive analytics is an analytical approach that uses predictive modelling, optimisation methods and advanced algorithms to recommend the most appropriate actions. It does not… ### Price Comparison Website A price comparison website is a digital shopping platform that allows users to compare products across different e-commerce websites based on price, stock availability,… ## Track the digital heartbeat with Kriko Subscribe to receive curated insights, news, and ideas shaping the digital landscape. By checking this box, you acknowledge and accept our [privacy policy](https://kriko.io/privacy-policy).