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TTFB – Time To First Byte is a common term used extensively in the web performance space and what it simply means is the time taken from the user’s request for a page up until the moment the server begins sending the first packet of data. Less TTFB will mean quicker loading of any given website. This in turn enhances the quality of service that the users receive. This article looks at the issues that TTFB is facing today and how they can be resolved in a more effective manner.
TTFB
Time to First Byte (TTFB) is a critical metric in website performance that measures the time elapsed from when a user requests a web page to the moment the first byte of data is received by their browser. A low TTFB indicates a fast-loading website, while a high TTFB can lead to a poor user experience and potentially harm your website’s search engine rankings.
While there is no universally agreed-upon “good” TTFB value, a general guideline is to strive for a TTFB of under 2 seconds. This threshold is often considered acceptable for a satisfactory user experience. However, faster is always better. A TTFB closer to 0.5 seconds or even lower is ideal.
How to Measure Time To First Byte: 4 Options
Measuring it is the first step towards determining why your TTFB is excessive. There are a few techniques to measure TTFB, but bear in mind that the tools listed below will all produce different values, so it’s best to choose the one you’re more accustomed to and at ease with.
1. Measuring TTFB with GTmetrix
TTFB, or “waiting” time, is a metric that is easily measured with GTMetrix.
Scan your website and launch the waterfall to view your findings. You may see your loading metrics, including wait time (also known as TTFB), when you hover over the first result in the list.
2. Measuring TTFB with WebPageTest
You can also measure your TTFB with WebPageTest. When you scan your site, you’ll get your TTFB in seconds.
3. Measuring TTFB with Pingdom
Pingdom measures TTFB as well, calling it “wait” time. Simply scan your website using this tool, then scroll down the results to the “File Requests” section to view the wait times for both individual requests and your site.
4. Measuring TTFB with KeyCDN’s Web Performance Tool
The online Web Performance Test from KeyCDN is an excellent additional tool for TTFB measurement. It enables you to easily determine your TTFB from 14 distinct test sites. The TTFB for the WordPress.org site is lower in the US and greater in Europe, Asia, and Australia, as you can see in the results below—evidence that latency and distance play a significant influence in TTFB.
How to measure TTFB via File Manager
Naturally, using the in-built File Manager in your control panel would be the quickest way to test your speed.
- Log in to your Control Panel and go to File Manager.
- Click on the New File option and create a .php file with the name of your choice.
- Right-click on the newly-created file and click on Edit.
- Once inside, paste the following code:
<?php phpinfo(); ?>
- Click the Save button.
- Open your browser and type yourdomain.com/yourfile.php. You should see such a page:
- This only gives you the PHP information for your server. To run a TTFB test, choose the website analyzer of your choice and check the URL yourdomain.com/yourfile.php
How to use FTP to measure TTFB
The procedures above make it simple to produce the same file if you are using Filezilla or another FTP program to manage your account. You only have to do this:
To access your server, launch your FTP client and log in.
Open the public_html directory and add a new.php file there.
Launch your browser and navigate to yourfile.php at yourdomain.com.
How to measure TTFB via SSH
More advanced users can measure their TTFB and page loading speeds via SSH (secure shell access) as well. Here is what the procedure involves:
- Open your SSH terminal.
- Enter your root folder with the following command:
cd /home/username/public_html
- Creating the file takes nothing more than a single line as well:
echo ‘<?php phpinfo();’ > info.php
- You can now go ahead and load the phpinfo page in your browser.
9 Ways to Reduce Time to First Byte (TTFB) on WordPress
Time to First Byte (TTFB) is a crucial metric in web performance, measuring the time it takes for a web server to start sending data to a user’s browser. A low TTFB indicates a fast-loading website, which is essential for a positive user experience. Here are nine effective strategies to reduce TTFB on your WordPress site:
1. Choose a Reliable Web Host: Your web host plays a significant role in TTFB. Opt for a provider with a solid reputation for speed and reliability. Consider factors like server location, hardware, and network infrastructure.
2. Utilize Caching: Caching stores static content on a user’s browser or server, reducing the need to fetch it from the database or server each time a page is loaded. WordPress plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache can help you implement effective caching.
3. Optimize Images: Large images can significantly slow down your website’s loading time. Compress images using tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to reduce their file size without compromising quality. Consider using lazy loading to defer the loading of images until they are visible on the screen.
4. Minify CSS and JavaScript: Remove unnecessary characters and whitespace from your CSS and JavaScript files to reduce their size. This can be done manually or with plugins like Autoptimize or Hummingbird.
5. Enable GZIP Compression: GZIP compression can significantly reduce the size of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, leading to faster loading times. Most web servers support GZIP compression by default.
6. Optimize Your Database: A bloated or inefficient database can slow down your website’s performance. Regularly optimize your database by removing unnecessary data, running database optimization queries, and using a caching plugin for database queries.
7. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN distributes your website’s content across multiple servers worldwide, reducing latency and improving load times for users in different locations. Popular CDN providers include Cloudflare, Fastly, and KeyCDN.
8. Reduce HTTP Requests: Each HTTP request adds to your website’s loading time. Minimize the number of requests by combining CSS and JavaScript files, using sprites for images, and optimizing your theme and plugins.
9. Keep Your WordPress Installation Updated: Ensure that your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are always up-to-date. Updates often include performance improvements and security fixes that can benefit your website’s TTFB.
