Are you looking to understand the basics of First Input Delay and how it can impact your website’s performance?
First Input Delay is the time from when a user first interacts with a page to when the browser is able to respond to that interaction. It is an important metric for measuring user experience.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the basics of First Input Delay and how it can affect your website’s performance.
What is First Input Delay?
First Input Delay (FID) is a metric used to measure a website’s or web application’s responsiveness.
It is the amount of time it takes for a user’s first interaction with the page to be processed by the browser. This includes clicks, taps, and other types of user input.
FID is an important metric because it provides insight into how quickly a website or web application responds to user input.
It can be used to measure the overall performance of a website or web application and identify areas that need improvement.
FID is measured in milliseconds and is calculated by taking the time difference between when a user first interacts with a page and when the browser processes that interaction.
This time difference is then divided by the total time it takes for the page to load fully.
FID is an important metric for web developers and designers to consider when creating a website or web application.
It is important to ensure that a website or web application is responsive to user input, as this can significantly impact user experience.
FID can be improved by optimizing the code, reducing the number of requests, and minifying resources. Additionally, caching can be used to reduce the amount of time it takes for a page to load.
Why is First Input Delay important?
First Input Delay (FID) is an important metric for measuring the performance of a website or web application.
It measures the time from when a user first interacts with your site (i.e. clicks a link or button) to the time when the browser is actually able to respond to that interaction.
This metric is important because it directly indicates how responsive and user-friendly a website is.
A website with a high FID will feel sluggish and unresponsive, leading to a poor user experience. This can lead to users abandoning the site and not returning.
It can also lead to a decrease in conversions and sales. A website with a low FID will feel more responsive and user-friendly, leading to better user engagement and conversions.
FID is also important because it is a key metric for measuring a website’s performance. It indicates how quickly a website can respond to user input, and how well it can handle user interactions.
This is important for ensuring that a website can handle large amounts of traffic and remain responsive.
Finally, FID is important because it is a key factor in determining how well a website ranks in search engine results.
Search engines consider a website’s performance when determining its ranking, and a website with a high FID will be penalized.
This means that a website with a low FID will be more likely to rank higher in search engine results.
What is the history of First Input Delay?
The history of First Input Delay (FID) dates back to the early 2000s when Google first developed it.
It was created as part of the PageSpeed Insights tool, which was designed to measure the performance of web pages.
FID was initially used to measure the time it took for a web page to respond to user input, such as clicking a link or typing in a search query.
Since its initial development, FID has evolved significantly. In 2016, Google released the Chrome User Experience Report, which made use of FID to measure the performance of websites across the web.
This report was used to identify slow-loading websites and suggest ways to improve their performance.
In 2018, Google announced the Lighthouse tool, incorporating FID into its performance metrics.
This tool allowed developers to measure their web page performance and identify improvement areas.
In 2019, Google released the Core Web Vitals, which included FID as one of three key performance metrics.
This was done to provide developers with a more comprehensive view of the performance of their web pages.
Since its initial development, FID has become an important metric for measuring the performance of web pages.
It has been used to identify slow-loading websites and suggest ways to improve their performance.
It has also been incorporated into various performance metrics, such as the Chrome User Experience Report and the Core Web Vitals.
As a result, FID has become an essential tool for web developers looking to optimize the performance of their websites.
Important things about First Input Delay
Contentful Paint
Contentful Paint (FCP) is a metric that measures the time it takes for a page to become visually complete.
It is a key component of the Google Web Vitals initiative, which aims to provide developers with a comprehensive set of metrics to measure the performance of their websites.
FCP is important for measuring a page’s First Input Delay (FID), as it is the first step in the process of a user interacting with a page.
FCP measures the time it takes for the browser to render the page’s content, including text, images, and other media.
The faster the content is rendered, the faster the user can interact with the page, thus reducing the FID.
Google Web Dev
Google Web Dev is a suite of tools and services provided by Google to help developers create and optimize websites.
It includes tools such as PageSpeed Insights, which provides developers with insights into how their websites are performing, as well as tools to help optimize the performance of websites.
Google Web Dev also includes features to help developers measure their websites’ First Input Delay (FID).
By understanding the FID, developers can identify areas of their websites that need improvement to reduce the amount of time it takes for a user to interact with the page.
Javascript
Javascript is a scripting language used to create interactive web pages. It adds dynamic elements to web pages, such as animations, forms, and menus.
Javascript also has one of the highest impacts on FID because it can block the loading of the first contentful paint, but is also often needed to be able to interact with forms or buttons.
Web Vitals
Web Vitals is an initiative by Google to provide developers with a comprehensive set of metrics to measure the performance of their websites.
It includes metrics such as First Contentful Paint (FCP), which measures the time it takes for a page to become visually complete, and First Input Delay (FID), which measures the time it takes for a user to interact with a page.
By understanding these metrics, developers can identify areas of their websites that need improvement in order to reduce the FID and improve the user experience.
Pagespeed Insights
Pagespeed Insights is a tool provided by Google to help developers measure and optimize the performance of their websites.
It provides developers with insights into how their websites are performing, as well as recommendations for how to improve their websites.
Pagespeed Insights also includes features to help developers measure their websites’ First Input Delay (FID).
By understanding the FID, developers can identify areas of their websites that need improvement to reduce the amount of time it takes for a user to interact with the page.
Compare First Input Delay
First input delay vs time to interactive
First Input Delay (FID) is a metric used to measure the time it takes for the website to respond to a user’s interaction with a website or web application. Time to Interactive (TTI) is a metric used to measure the time it takes for a page to become fully interactive.
The main difference between FID and TTI is that FID measures the time the browser responds to a user’s input, while TTI measures the time it takes for the page to become fully interactive.
FID is a more immediate measure of user experience, while TTI is a more comprehensive measure of user experience.
First input delay vs cumulative layout shift
The difference between FID and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is that FID measures the time it takes for a user to interact with a page, while CLS measures the number of layout shifts that occur on a page over time.
FID is not the same as page load time or time to first byte, which measure the time it takes for a page to load in its entirety.
FID measures the time it takes for the browser to respond to the user’s first interaction with the page, which could be anything from clicking a link to typing in a search query.
Additionally, FID is only measured when the user interacts with the page, so if the user does not interact with the page, FID will not be measured.
FAQ about First Input Delay
What is a good first input delay score?
A good first input delay score is one that is below 100 milliseconds. This is the amount of time it takes for a user to interact with a page after it has been loaded. A score of 100 milliseconds or less indicates that the page is loading quickly and that the user is able to interact with it quickly.
How do I fix first input delay?
To fix first input delay, you should first identify the sources of the delay. Common sources of delay include large images, inefficient JavaScript, and slow server response times. Once you have identified the source of the delay, you can optimize the page by reducing the size of images, minifying JavaScript, and optimizing server response times.
How do I check my first input delay?
You can check your first input delay using a variety of tools, such as Google PageSpeed Insights, WebPageTest, and Lighthouse. These tools will provide you with a score for your first input delay, as well as suggestions for how to improve it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I have learned that First Input Delay is an important metric to consider when optimizing a website for user experience.
It is a measure of how quickly a user can interact with a page after it has loaded, and can be improved by reducing the amount of JavaScript and other resources that need to be loaded.
Also read: I fixed my core web vitals by using this one tool, Ezoic Leap
Joost Nusselder is The Content Decoder, a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new tools en tactics. He's been working on a portfolio of niche sites since 2010. Now since 2016 he creates in-depth blog articles together with his team to help loyal readers earn from their own succesful sites.
