Microsoft Edge hits sub-300ms content load time

Microsoft announced a significant improvement in the rendering speed of its Edge browser, achieving a First Contentful Paint (FCP) metric of under 300 milliseconds for initial content display, according to a recent post on its Windows blog.

First Contentful Paint, a metric Google introduced in its Chrome browser in 2017, measures the time until the first visual content, such as text, images, or UI elements, is rendered on the screen. Microsoft states that industry research indicates user satisfaction can be significantly impacted when this initial content loading exceeds 300 to 400 milliseconds. While achieving FCP under 300 milliseconds contributes to a perception of speed and responsiveness, it does not reflect the total time required for a website to load completely.

These performance enhancements stem from Microsoft’s ongoing migration of Edge’s user interface to a WebUI 2.0 architecture. This architecture is designed to minimize code bundle sizes and reduce the amount of JavaScript code executed during UI initialization. Previous efforts, highlighted in February, resulted in a 40 percent speed increase for features such as downloads, history, and the creation of new private browsing tabs.

Is the Microsoft Edge deleted tweet real or fake?

Microsoft has since extended these performance improvements to 13 additional browser features. These include more responsive settings, “near-instant navigation and less loading delays” for split screen functionality, and smoother playback for the AI-powered Read Aloud feature, which focuses on accessibility. The company plans to roll out further performance optimizations for features like Print Preview and Extensions in the coming months.

Featured image credit