When it comes to website speed and user experience, there are several key metrics that you should keep in mind. One of these metrics is Total Blocking Time (TBT), which measures how long a user has to wait before they can interact with your website. In this blog post, we’ll explore what TBT is and how it affects your website’s page speed.
What is Total Blocking Time (TBT)?
TBT measures the amount of time between First Contentful Paint (FCP) and Time to Interactive (TTI) during which the user cannot interact with your website. In other words, it measures how long it takes for the website to become fully interactive after the first contentful paint has been rendered. This metric is important because it affects the user experience, with longer TBT resulting in a more frustrating and unsatisfactory experience for users.
Why is TBT Important?
TBT is important because it directly impacts the user experience on your website. When users are forced to wait for an extended period before they can interact with your website, they are more likely to become frustrated and leave your website. This can lead to a higher bounce rate, reduced engagement, and even lost revenue. Additionally, TBT is one of the Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics used by Google to evaluate website speed and user experience. Websites with a high TBT score may be penalized in search engine rankings.
How to Measure TBT?
TBT can be measured using various tools, including Google’s Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, and WebPageTest. These tools can provide valuable insights into your website’s performance and provide recommendations on how to optimize your website’s TBT.
How to Optimize TBT?
Several factors can affect TBT, including the size and complexity of the web page, the number of JavaScript files and third-party scripts, and the rendering of content above the fold. To optimize TBT, you can take the following steps:
- Optimize Critical Rendering Path
The critical rendering path is the process of rendering the above-the-fold content as quickly as possible. To optimize TBT, you can minimize the size of the CSS and JavaScript files, reduce the number of requests, and prioritize above-the-fold content.
- Reduce Third-Party Scripts
Third-party scripts, such as ads or social media widgets, can significantly impact TBT. To optimize TBT, you can remove or defer non-essential third-party scripts or use asynchronous loading to minimize their impact.
- Minimize the Use of JavaScript
JavaScript can also significantly impact TBT, especially when it blocks other page resources. To optimize TBT, you can reduce the use of JavaScript and ensure that it is executed efficiently and asynchronously.
In closing, Total Blocking Time (TBT) is an essential metric that measures the amount of time a user has to wait before they can interact with your website. A high TBT score can negatively impact the user experience, search engine rankings, and ultimately, your online success. To optimize TBT, you can optimize the critical rendering path, reduce the use of third-party scripts, and minimize the use of JavaScript. By optimizing TBT, you can improve your website’s page speed, user experience, and overall success. We recommend that you regularly monitor and optimize your website’s TBT to provide your users with an excellent experience and stay ahead of the competition.