Web performance budget refers to the limits defined for aspects like page size, load times, and HTTP requests to ensure site speed and efficiency. This strategy in web development enables the developers to structure and maintain the performance goals within acceptable limits. A performance budget can be created for the entire site, for individual pages, or for both, which is usually recommended. Some examples of performance budgets are as follows:
- The “Homepage” should be less than 200 KB in size and load in less than 2 seconds over a Fast 3G mobile network.
- The “Search page” on the desktop site must feature images that are no more than 1.5 MB.
- On a slow 3G network, the “Blog page” must load in 1.5 seconds and be interactive in less than 5 seconds.
- Lighthouse performance audits require the “Landing page” to have a performance score of at least 85.
Benefits of a Web Performance Budget:
Setting up a performance budget allows you to move towards increasing your website’s overall performance. When new features are added to the website, it will be a resource for everyone, including the team of designers, developers, marketers, and the business itself. For example, if you limit the number of images and fonts (as well as their file sizes), designers will have a better idea of what they can and cannot utilize. Similarly, limiting the number of third-party scripts and libraries allows developers to better approach their goals.
Improved User Experience:
Website performance has a direct impact on the user experience. For instance, slow-loading websites or applications reduce user engagement. Setting performance budgets allows developers to prioritize crucial performance parameters, resulting in a better user experience. Some of the parameters include:
- Page load time
- Time to interaction
- Visual stability
Retention and Engagement:
Fast-loading websites have reduced bounce rates and increased user engagement. Users are more inclined to stay and interact with content on a website that responds promptly to their input. By sticking to performance budgets, developers may retain users and encourage them to explore more, resulting in higher retention and engagement metrics.
SEO:
Search engines such as Google prioritize websites that load quickly in search results. Sites that load quickly rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) which increases the website’s visibility and organic traffic. Therefore, sticking to performance budgets may help boost the overall search performance of the website.
Mobile Optimization:
It is important to improve the web speed for mobile users as they typically have slower internet speeds. Setting performance budgets ensures that websites are optimized for mobile devices, resulting in a consistent experience across platforms and screens.
Reduce Expenses:
Faster websites use fewer server resources and bandwidth, which results in cost savings for businesses. Developers can save money on hosting by adhering to performance budgets and optimizing resource consumption.
Competitive Edge:
In the market, there are many competitors, but user experience can differentiate between them. The sites that prioritize performance and give a fast, seamless experience outperform the slower, less optimized competition. Businesses can rank themselves apart from others by attracting more customers by setting up performance budgets.
Inclusion and Accessibility:
Web performance has an impact on accessibility, especially for users with slow internet connections or disabilities who need the use of assistive tools. Fast-loading websites are more accessible to a broader range of users, ensuring inclusion and adherence to accessibility guidelines.
How to Set a Web Performance Budget:
- Determine essential metrics such as page load time, time to interactivity, etc.
- Recognize user expectations and device/network limits.
- Set specific performance targets for each statistic.
- Prioritize crucial metrics that affect the user experience.
- Use monitoring tools to keep track of performance against the budget.
- Iterate and tweak the targets as needed.
- Involve stakeholders to promote collaboration and alignment.
Conclusion:
It is important to understand that the goal of a web performance budget is to move towards an efficient and user-friendly website and web app. It should serve as a reference for determining what to include on your website. For instance, the key concept of web development at Hashlogics is to create better web performance by setting up a web performance budget along with preserving functionality and user experience. Developers can increase user experience, retention and engagement, search engine rankings, mobile device optimization, cost savings, competitive advantage, and accessibility for all users by prioritizing performance optimization and adhering to defined budgets.