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Time to First Byte is one of the more technical performance metrics, but it points directly at server-side issues that other metrics can mask.
What TTFB Measures
TTFB is the time between a browser requesting a page and receiving the very first byte of the response — essentially, how long your server takes to start responding, before any actual page content is even sent.
Why It's Different From Overall Load Time
A page can have a fast TTFB but still load slowly overall due to large images or heavy scripts — TTFB isolates specifically the server's own response speed from everything that happens afterward in the browser.
Common Causes of Slow TTFB
Unoptimized database queries, insufficient server resources (CPU/RAM), lack of caching, and physical distance between server and visitor all contribute to a slow TTFB.
How to Improve It
Server-level caching, database optimization, and upgrading to a plan with more dedicated resources (like a VPS) are the most direct ways to reduce TTFB.
A Good Target
Under 200ms is generally considered excellent, with under 600ms still acceptable for most sites — anything consistently over a second is worth investigating.
