Quick Reference
Element Code: PE-005
Issue: Time to First Byte (TTFB) is too slow
Impact: Delays entire page load, affects all other metrics
Fix: Optimize server, use caching, consider CDN
Detection: Lighthouse, WebPageTest, Chrome DevTools
What Is This Issue?
TTFB measures how long it takes for the browser to receive the first byte of the page from the server. Slow TTFB delays everything else, as nothing can render until the HTML starts arriving.
Good TTFB Targets
| TTFB | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Under 200ms | Good |
| 200-500ms | Needs improvement |
| Over 500ms | Poor |
How to Fix This Issue
- Use a CDN: Serve from locations closer to users
- Enable Caching: Server-side caching reduces processing time
- Optimize Database: Slow queries delay response
- Upgrade Hosting: Better servers respond faster
- Use HTTP/2 or HTTP/3: Faster protocols
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
Your server takes too long to start sending the page. This delays everything. Use a CDN, enable caching, optimize your database queries, or upgrade your hosting.
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