PSYCHOLOGY OF SPEED: A GUIDE TO PERCEIVED PERFORMANCE

Summary from the TLDR Web Dev newsletter

Perceived performance focuses on how users feel about the speed and responsiveness of a website or app, rather than just relying on metric-driven performance. This subjective perception is influenced by various factors, including the user's environment, device, network, and emotional state, making it difficult to quantify. Perceived performance can be enhanced by smartly communicating status and progress, keeping users engaged during load times, avoiding sudden page movements, and preventing intensive processing. This article teaches how to use design and psychological principles to increase perceived performance by users.