1.5 Performance & Core Web VitalsMediumInferred

Excessive TTFB

Time to First Byte is how long the server takes to start responding. A slow TTFB delays everything that follows, so a fast page is impossible if the server is sluggish to begin with.

What it is

Slow server response.

Why it matters

Delays everything downstream incl. LCP and crawl efficiency.

How to fix it

Improve hosting, caching, CDN.

How to find it on your site

  1. Measure TTFB with curl -w or in the DevTools Network tab.
  2. Check whether it is consistently slow or only under load.
  3. Look at server processing, database queries, and whether a CDN or caching layer is in front.
  4. Add caching or a CDN, and optimise the slowest server work.

Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors

TTFB is upstream of LCP and the whole load. Reducing it improves Core Web Vitals across the board.

Impact

Low-medium. Inferred.

Evidence

TTFB affects LCP and crawl; improve server response. web.dev, Core Web Vitals (Google); Google Search Central, Large site owner’s guide to managing crawl budget

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