Server response time (often called Time to First Byte, or TTFB) measures how long the server takes to start sending a response after a request arrives — before any page rendering happens in the browser.
Good benchmarks
- Under 200ms: excellent
- 200–500ms: acceptable for most sites
- Over 800ms–1s: noticeable to users and a negative ranking signal
Common fixes
- Add or fix database indexes on frequently queried columns
- Cache expensive queries or full pages where content doesn’t change per-request
- Use a CDN to serve static assets and cached pages closer to the visitor
- Upgrade hosting resources if the server is genuinely under-provisioned for current traffic
FAQ
Is response time the same as page load time?
No — response time is just the server’s part; total page load also includes downloading assets and browser rendering, which you address separately (image optimization, JS/CSS minification, etc.).