Server response time measures how long your server takes to process a request and start sending a response. It's closely related to Time to First Byte (TTFB).
What affects server response time
Server-side factors
- Database query performance
- Server-side code efficiency
- Server hardware/resources
- Application architecture
Network factors
- Distance to server
- Network congestion
- DNS resolution time
- TLS negotiation
Measuring server response time
Tools to measure:
- Browser DevTools (Network tab)
- Lighthouse
- WebPageTest
- VitalSentinel
Improving server response time
- Optimize database queries
- Implement caching layers
- Use a CDN
- Upgrade server hardware
- Optimize server-side code
- Use efficient hosting
Target values
- Good: Under 200ms
- Acceptable: 200-600ms
- Slow: Over 600ms
Related Terms
Caching
The process of storing copies of data in a temporary storage location so that future requests can be served faster.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A geographically distributed network of servers that work together to provide fast delivery of internet content by serving it from locations closer to users.
Latency
The time delay between a user action and the system's response, often referring to network delay in web performance.
Time to First Byte (TTFB)
A performance metric that measures the time between the request for a resource and when the first byte of a response begins to arrive.