First Input Delay

Definition

The First Input Delay (FID) is a performance metric defined by Google and the Web Performance Working Group. FID measures the time from the user's click or tap to the initialization of interactions that really affect page behavior. Thus, it is another metric that developers can use to measure and optimize user experience.

Advantages

The biggest benefit of FID is that it is a very specific metric that measures very concrete user behavior. It is a very meaningful measure of the level of user interaction that a page enables. In addition, FID can help developers understand at the page level where areas for improvement are and how they can make changes to improve the user experience.

Disadvantages

One drawback of FID is that it only measures the initial time of certain interactions, not the time that follows. This means that it can be difficult for developers to learn more about user experience and performance at the page level. FID is also not very good at measuring page-level processing times.

Use cases

FID is mainly used to measure user experience at page level. It is mainly used when the developer wants to make a detailed user experience analysis to understand how users respond to specific page interactions in different browsers and devices.

# Examples

One example of how the FID can help optimize the user experience is image rendering. When a user clicks on an image, the FID measures how long it takes for the image to appear on the screen. If the response time for loading the image is long, the developer can make changes to reduce the loading time.

Another example would be the use of First Input Delay in page load speed optimization. When a user clicks on a page, the First Input Delayhow long it takes for the page to load completely. If the load time is too long, the developer can make changes to improve the load time.

Conclusion

The First Input Delay is a metric that can help developers measure and optimize user experience. It measures the time from user click or tap to initialization of interactions that really affect page behavior. FID can help developers understand user interactions at the page level and make targeted changes to improve the user experience.

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FAQ

What the First Input Delay (FID)?

First Input Delay (FID) is a measurement that measures how long it takes for your website to respond to user input. It measures the time that elapses from the user pressing Enter until the browser begins executable work on your website.

Why is First Input Delay (FID) important?

First Input Delay (FID) is important because it is a key measure of the usability of your website. If a user does something on your website and it takes longer than expected, the user experience will be negatively affected. FID measures how long it takes for the browser to respond to the user's request - the user experience depends on it.

How can I improve my First Input Delay (FID)?

To improve First Input Delay (FID), you can optimize your code to reduce browser startup time when the user interacts on your website. For example, change the loading times for your assets, reduce the complexity of your code, use more resource-friendly technologies, and pay attention to the efficiency of external scripts.

Why is First Input Delay (FID) an important metric for SEO?

First Input Delay (FID) is an important metric for SEO, as search engines evaluate the usability of your website. If your website is slow to respond to user input, it can affect your ranking in search results. Therefore, it is important that you monitor and improve the FID of your website.

What tools can I use to measure my First Input Delay (FID)?

There are several tools that can help you measure the First Input Delay (FID) of your website. Some of them are: Google PageSpeed Insights, Chrome DevTools, WebPageTest, Lighthouse and SpeedCurve.

What is an acceptable measure of First Input Delay (FID)?

Google recommends that the First Input Delay (FID) should not exceed 100 milliseconds. However, this is only a guideline - if your website offers a more complex user experience, this measurement may increase due to increased demands.

Can I control the First Input Delay (FID) with a performance budget?

a, you can control the First Input Delay (FID) with a performance budget. A performance budget is a set of guidelines that you can use to schedule the load times of your assets to maximize the user experience of your website.

How does the size of my page affect the First Input Delay (FID)?

The size of your web page directly affects the First Input Delay (FID). The larger your web page is, the more assets the browser downloads and processes to load the page. The larger the number of assets, the longer the First Input Delay (FID) can be.

Can I measure the First Input Delay (FID) on mobile devices?

Yes, you can measure First Input Delay (FID) on both mobile and desktop devices. Some tools that can help you with this are Lighthouse, Chrome DevTools, and SpeedCurve.

How can I monitor my First Input Delay (FID)?

To monitor the First Input Delay (FID), you can use one of the above tools to take regular measurements of your website. In addition, you can also use an automated monitoring tool to monitor the FID of your website.

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Niels Stuck

Niels Stuck has 10 years of SEO experience and is the founder of the SEO agency "WOLF OF SEO". He gained practical experience by building 20+ affiliate sites alongside his marketing studies. Finally, he wrote his bachelor thesis about the influence of SEO on Google rankings, traffic and sales development in the form of a case study. Today, he specializes in e-commerce SEO and helps more than 80 companies build a sustainable organic revenue channel through SEO. Niels advises startups, established brands and corporations in search engine optimization of their online stores and primarily focuses on data-based content strategies and link building. He shares his knowledge about SEO and online marketing in this blog, as a speaker at conferences, in podcasts and as a guest author for OMT, Forbes, Starting Up and many more platforms.

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