Lower TTFB in WordPress using Cloudflare’s DNS

When it comes to optimizing website performance, Time to First Byte (TTFB) plays a crucial role. TTFB measures the time it takes for a user’s browser to receive the first byte of data from a web server after making a request. A lower TTFB indicates faster response times and better user experience. One way to improve TTFB in WordPress is by leveraging Cloudflare’s DNS (Domain Name System). In this article, we will explore the benefits of using Cloudflare’s DNS for lowering TTFB, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to make the switch.

Understanding Authoritative DNS and TTFB

In order to grasp the significance of Cloudflare’s DNS in improving TTFB, it’s important to have a solid understanding of authoritative DNS servers and how they impact website performance. An authoritative DNS server acts as the ultimate source of truth for a domain’s DNS records. When someone enters a website’s URL into their browser, the browser needs to know the corresponding IP address to establish a connection. It accomplishes this by reaching out to the authoritative DNS server associated with that domain.

The authoritative DNS server is like a knowledgeable guide or a trusted librarian who holds all the essential information about the domain. When the browser sends a request, it essentially asks the authoritative DNS server, “Hey, what’s the IP address for this website?” The authoritative DNS server responds with the correct IP address, allowing the browser to establish a connection and load the website.

Now, let’s explore the concept of TTFB (Time to First Byte). TTFB is a critical metric that measures the time it takes for the first byte of data to be received by the browser after it sends a request to the server. It consists of several subparts, and one of them is the DNS time. The DNS time specifically refers to the duration it takes for the DNS lookup to occur and retrieve the IP address from the authoritative DNS server. So that means that when you lower DNS time, then you lower you total TTFB.

Why Cloudflare’s DNS is Better for Lowering TTFB

Cloudflare’s DNS offers distinct advantages for reducing TTFB compared to relying solely on your server’s DNS. Firstly, Cloudflare operates a vast network of servers worldwide. This global presence ensures that DNS answers are delivered from the server closest to the user, minimizing the distance the DNS response needs to travel. This geographical advantage translates to faster response times and reduced TTFB. Additionally, Cloudflare’s DNS boasts high availability, ensuring fast, reliable and consistent DNS resolution for your WordPress site.

Below is an example of a website for which we use local DNS (PowerDNS):

And look how significant is the improvement by using Cloudflare DNS. Almost like magic, only by changing our nameservers we managed to lower our TTFB by more than 40% in some cases:

Other Benefits of Using Cloudflare’s DNS

In addition to improving TTFB, leveraging Cloudflare’s DNS provides several other benefits for WordPress websites.

1. DDoS Protection: Cloudflare’s robust infrastructure protects against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, safeguarding your website’s availability and performance.
2. Increased DNS Redundancy: By utilizing Cloudflare’s DNS, you can rely on their extensive network to enhance DNS redundancy and mitigate the impact of any DNS-related issues.
3. DNSSEC Support: Cloudflare supports DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions), which adds an additional layer of security to DNS resolution, reducing the risk of DNS-related attacks.
4. Traffic Offloading: Using Cloudflare’s DNS offloads DNS-related traffic from your local DNS server, reducing resource consumption and potentially improving overall server performance.

Switching to Cloudflare’s DNS

Now that we understand the benefits, let’s explore the steps to switch to Cloudflare’s DNS in WordPress.

1. Sign up for a Cloudflare account: If you don’t already have a Cloudflare account, visit their website and sign up for a free account.
2. Add your website to Cloudflare: Once logged in, add your WordPress website to Cloudflare by entering your domain name and following the setup instructions.
3. Verify DNS records: Cloudflare will scan your existing DNS records and provide a list for verification. Ensure that all necessary records are correctly imported.
4. Update nameservers: Cloudflare will provide you with two nameservers. Go to your domain registrar’s website and update the nameservers to the ones provided by Cloudflare.
5. Set DNS records to bypass the proxy: In the Cloudflare dashboard, go to the DNS settings and ensure that the desired DNS records are set to “DNS only” mode, bypassing Cloudflare’s proxy.
6. Clear DNS cache: To ensure a smooth transition, clear the DNS cache on your local machine and any other caching layers in your network.

Decrease your TTFB with Cloudflare

By leveraging Cloudflare’s DNS, WordPress website owners can significantly reduce TTFB, enhance website performance, and provide a better user experience. Cloudflare’s global network, high availability, and traffic offloading capabilities make it an excellent choice for optimizing DNS resolution. The benefits of using Cloudflare’s DNS go beyond TTFB reduction, offering increased security, DNS redundancy, and protection against DDoS attacks. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can seamlessly switch to Cloudflare’s DNS and enjoy the advantages it brings to your WordPress site’s performance and reliability. Remember, the focus is solely on utilizing Cloudflare’s free DNS service without proxying the website’s traffic.