Understanding Web Performance & TTFB
Deconstructing HTTP Request Latency
Website loading speed is a confirmed ranking factor in Google's search algorithms and a primary driver of user conversion rates. Our benchmark deconstructs total request time into its distinct phases:
- DNS Lookup: Time required to resolve the hostname to an IP address.
- TCP Connect: Three-way TCP handshake latency.
- TLS Handshake: Cryptographic cipher negotiation duration.
- Time to First Byte (TTFB): Time elapsed until the web server generates and transmits the first byte of response data. A TTFB under 200ms is considered excellent.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is an acceptable TTFB for modern websites?
Google considers a TTFB under 200 milliseconds to be good. A TTFB between 200ms and 500ms is acceptable, while anything exceeding 600ms requires server-side caching or CDN optimization.