Latency
The time between sending a request and the response starting to arrive, usually measured in milliseconds.
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Why it matters
The physical distance between the user and the server, network quality and the server's processing time determine latency. A few hundred milliseconds added to each request turn into seconds on pages that make many requests. Content delivery networks and servers close to the user reduce latency.
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Example
For users in the Gulf of a site whose server is only in Europe, every request is noticeably delayed. Once static files are moved to a content delivery network, pages open faster for these users.
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Common mistake
Testing speed only from a location close to the server and on a fast connection. The real experience of users in distant countries and on mobile networks goes unseen.
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Related terms
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