TTFB: what it is and how to reduce it from the server

The TTFB (Time To First Byte) is one of the most revealing metrics when we talk about web performance. It does not measure how long it takes for a website to fully load, but rather how long it takes for the server to start responding.

And that changes everything.

When the TTFB is high, the website feels slow even before displaying content. When it is low, the rest of the technical optimizations start to make sense. That is why, in any WPO analysis, the TTFB is usually the first indicator worth reviewing.

Introduction: Why TTFB is critical for web performance

The TTFB marks the real start of the loading experience.
Until the server sends the first byte, the browser can do nothing but wait.

Perception of speed and user experience

For the user, a website does not start loading when images appear. It starts loading when it stops being blank.
A high TTFB causes that uncomfortable waiting feeling where it seems like the page is not responding or is down, especially on mobile devices or irregular connections.

Even if the website loads quickly afterward, the first impression is already lost.

Relationship between server response time and conversion

Numerous studies indicate that small initial delays reduce conversions. Forms, registrations, or purchase processes are especially sensitive to that first response time. If the server takes too long to react, many users simply abandon it before interacting.

Here, technical performance translates directly into business results.

TTFB as the basis of technical performance

TTFB is not an official Core Web Vitals metric, but it conditions all of them. If the server takes time to respond, metrics like LCP or FCP start disadvantaged from the first millisecond. Optimizing the front end without a good TTFB is building on an unstable foundation.

What is TTFB (Time To First Byte)?

TTFB is the time that elapses from when the browser requests a page until it receives the first byte of response from the server.

It does not measure full load or rendering, only that first contact between client and server.

Technical definition of TTFB

From a technical point of view, TTFB includes three phases:

1. The sending of the HTTP request from the browser.
2. The processing of that request on the server.
3. The reception of the first byte of response by the client.

It is, therefore, a metric closely linked to server performance and network quality.

What it measures exactly and what not

TTFB measures:

• Backend processing time.
• Network latency.
• Server response capability.

It does not measure:

• Resource download.
• Visual rendering.
• Loading of images, CSS, or JavaScript.

That is why it is so useful for detecting «invisible» bottlenecks in the front end.

Difference between TTFB, total load, and other web times

The total load of a website can be fast even with a bad TTFB… but the experience will never be good. TTFB is the starting point. If it fails, everything else is delayed in a cascade.

Why is TTFB important for web performance?

Because it acts as a multiplier. A small initial delay is amplified throughout the entire load.

Direct impact on user experience

When the browser waits too long for the server, the user receives no feedback. There is no progress, no content, no signs of life. That wait is perceived as extreme slowness, even if the website loads quickly afterward.

Influence on metrics like LCP and FCP

A high TTFB delays the first visible content and, therefore, worsens key performance metrics. It is not uncommon to see websites with good design and good front end penalized simply because the server responds late.

Relationship between high TTFB and user abandonment

The higher the TTFB, the greater the probability that the user will press «back».
This affects both the experience and indirect signals that Google may interpret negatively.

TTFB and SEO: How it affects ranking

TTFB is not a direct ranking factor, but it does influence several critical aspects of technical SEO.

TTFB as an indirect signal for Google

Google seeks to offer fast and reliable results. A website that takes time to respond transmits a signal of lower technical quality, even if the content is good.

Influence on crawling, indexing, and crawl budget

A slow server limits the number of pages that Google can crawl in a given period. In medium or large sites, this can cause indexing problems and delays in content updates.

Server performance as a competitive advantage in SEO

All else being equal, a website with a better response time has an advantage. Server performance thus becomes a differentiating factor against the competition.

Server factors that influence TTFB

In most cases, a high TTFB is not solved by tweaking the design. The origin is usually in the server.

Quality of hosting and allocated resources

A saturated hosting responds slowly. Plans with overselling, shared resources without guarantees, or constant CPU and RAM peaks usually translate into unstable and high TTFB.

The real capacity of the server matters more than commercial promises.

Server location and network latency

The physical distance between the server and the user directly influences the response time. Added to this is the quality of peering and network routes. A nearby and well-connected server reduces latency immediately.

Web server configuration

Not all web servers handle requests the same way. Nginx and LiteSpeed usually offer better response times than poorly optimized traditional configurations. The management of processes and workers is key to maintaining a low TTFB under load.

Backend and database

Slow queries, unnecessary code, or poorly designed dynamic processes increase the time the server needs before sending the first byte. Here, the backend has a decisive weight.

How to reduce TTFB from the server

Reducing TTFB requires acting on the infrastructure, not just the frontend.

Choose an optimized and scalable hosting

A hosting with SSD or NVMe disks, guaranteed resources, and a professional infrastructure reduces TTFB from the first moment. It is the foundation on which all subsequent performance is built.

Implement cache on the server

Cache prevents the server from having to process each request from scratch. When the HTML is already generated and served from cache, the TTFB is drastically and consistently reduced.

Optimize the database

Clean, well-indexed databases with fewer unnecessary queries respond faster. This translates directly into a shorter time to the first byte.

Keep the software updated

Modern versions of PHP and the server stack not only improve security, but also offer clear improvements in performance and processing efficiency.

Use of CDN and edge computing

A CDN reduces the distance between the user and the content. When it also acts as a reverse proxy and caches the HTML, it can significantly improve TTFB for users far from the origin server.

Protocols and compression

HTTP/2, HTTP/3, and Brotli or Gzip compression reduce the volume of data and improve the speed of initial communication. Fewer bytes, less time.

How to measure TTFB correctly

Measuring TTFB is not just about running a tool and looking at a number.
For the data to be useful, you need to understand where it is measured from, under what conditions, and what part of the process it is actually reflecting.

A poorly interpreted measurement can lead to wrong conclusions and unnecessary optimizations.

Tools to measure TTFB

There are many tools capable of showing TTFB, but not all offer the same context. The most common ones combine laboratory measurements with simulated data from different locations.

The most used are:

• Google Chrome Developer Tools: allow analyzing the real TTFB of each request and seeing how the server response time is broken down.
• PageSpeed Insights: shows laboratory data and, if there is enough traffic, real user data (CrUX).
• Pingdom Tools or WebPageTest: useful for measuring TTFB from different geographic locations and detecting latency or network issues.

The recommendation is not to rely on a single tool but to cross-check results.

How to interpret TTFB in tools

When a tool shows TTFB, it usually does so as part of the breakdown of times of an HTTP request. That value includes both server processing and network latency between the client and the server.

Therefore, a high TTFB does not always imply a slow server. In some cases, it may be due to:

• Geographic distance.
• Inefficient network routes.
• Mobile or unstable connections.

To isolate the problem, it is advisable to repeat the tests from different locations and conditions.

Differences between real and laboratory measurement

Laboratory measurements are performed under controlled conditions. They are useful for comparing changes and detecting technical problems, but they do not always reflect the real user experience.

Real measurements, on the other hand, take into account:

• Type of connection.
• Device.
• Network variations.
• Time of day.

That is why it is normal for the real TTFB to be higher than the laboratory one, especially on mobiles.

Simulate latency and devices

One of the most reliable ways to understand the impact of TTFB is to simulate different scenarios. The browser’s developer tools allow emulating slow connections and mobile devices to see how the initial response time is amplified.

This helps to detect cases where an apparently acceptable TTFB becomes a real problem for certain users.

Common errors when measuring TTFB

When analyzing TTFB, it is common to fall into some errors:

• Measure only once and consider the data valid.
• Always test from the same location.
• Confuse TTFB with total load time.
• Ignore the influence of cache.
• Compare values without considering the type of website.

Measuring correctly involves observing trends, not isolated values.

What to do with the results

Once a high TTFB is identified, the next step is to determine its origin. If the value is consistently high, the problem is usually in the server or hosting. If it varies greatly depending on the location or time, the network and latency usually have a greater weight.

In both cases, the goal is not to obsess over the exact number but to use TTFB as an initial indicator to decide where to start optimizing.

Reference values: what is a good TTFB

There is no single value valid for all cases, but there are indicative ranges:

• Excellent: less than 200 ms
• Acceptable: between 200 and 500 ms
• Problematic: more than 500 ms

Beyond that last threshold, it is advisable to review the server as soon as possible.

Factor	Impact on TTFB	Improvement applied
Saturated hosting	High constant TTFB	Guaranteed resources
Distant server	High latency	CDN or local server
No cache	Processing on each visit	Page cache

Conclusion

TTFB is the foundation of web performance. When it is high, it limits everything else. When it is low, it allows the rest of the optimizations to truly work.

Acting on the server, hosting, and infrastructure is the most direct way to improve speed, SEO, and user experience.

Improve TTFB and your website’s performance with an optimized hosting from cdmon.