{"id":445,"date":"2019-03-18T08:12:10","date_gmt":"2019-03-18T08:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imperva.com\/learn\/?post_type=performance&p=445"},"modified":"2023-08-14T10:52:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T10:52:25","slug":"front-end-optimization-feo","status":"publish","type":"performance","link":"https:\/\/www.imperva.com\/learn\/performance\/front-end-optimization-feo\/","title":{"rendered":"Front End Optimization"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In the context of web services, the term \u201cfront end\u201d relates to the interaction between your website and a visitor\u2019s browser. Front end optimization (FEO), also known as content optimization, is the process of fine-tuning your website to make it more browser-friendly and quicker to load.<\/p>\n

Broadly speaking, FEO focuses on reducing file sizes and minimizing the number of requests needed for a given page to load.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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During the FEO process, web designers draw a distinction between the perceived and the actual page load time. Perceived load time is considered because of its impact on the overall user experience (UX), while the actual load time is often used as a performance benchmark metric.<\/p>\n

Content delivery networks (CDNs) play an important role in the FEO process of front end optimization, as they are commonly used to streamline many of the more time-demanding optimization tasks. For example, a typical CDN offers auto-file compression and auto-minification features, freeing you from having to manually tinker with individual website resources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Fact:<\/strong> Front end delays comprise up to 80% of your website response time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Case in Point: Time to First Byte (TTFB)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Time to first byte, often used to measure a website\u2019s response time, is one of the most important\u2014as well as one of the most misunderstood\u2014performance metrics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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From an actual load time perspective, TTFB is the duration it takes for the first data byte to arrive from a server to the requesting browser. From a perceived load time perspective, however, TTFB is the duration it takes for the browser to parse the first byte after downloading the HTML file.<\/p>\n

Only perceived TTFB impacts user experience, making it the more valuable of the two metrics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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There are several ways to improve your website responsiveness:<\/h2>\n