What is PLS by navigation type
PLS by navigation type breaks down your Perceived Load Speed (PLS) by how users arrived at the page — whether it was a new navigation, a reload, a return via the back button, or even a prerendered experience powered by Navigation AI.
This lens helps you understand how navigation type affects how fast the page feels to load. Since different navigation types use different browser behaviors and caching, they can result in drastically different user-perceived speeds.
Navigation Type | Description |
Navigate | A standard navigation to a new page |
Prerender | A page loaded instantly via preloading (e.g., Navigation AI) |
Back-forward | The user navigated using the back/forward button |
Back-forward-cache | A page restored instantly from browser memory cache (bfcache) |
Reload | The user refreshed the page |
Restore | The browser restored the page (e.g., after reopening a tab or session) |
Unknown | The navigation type couldn’t be determined |
Healthy PLS by navigation type sample
Should you worry
A healthy PLS by navigation type lens shows your fastest perceived loads from navigation types like prerender and back-forward-cache, with consistently good PLS across the rest.
If Navigate or Reload types show higher PLS values, it means new visitors or returning users aren’t getting the snappy experience they should. This can increase bounce rates and reduce conversion opportunities.
Unhealthy PLS by navigation type sample
If standard navigations (Navigate) show significantly higher PLS values than others, that’s a warning sign — especially since they represent most first-time user journeys.
This also reduces the perceived speed benefits of faster types like prerender and bfcache. When a slow navigation is followed by a fast one, the first impression still leaves a mark, affecting the overall user experience.
Resolving unhealthy PLS by navigation type
Go-to action plan to resolve an unhealthy PLS by navigation type:
Ask Uxi to analyze your PLS by navigation type and suggest improvements.
Use Filters to drill into slow Navigate or Reload sessions and spot common bottlenecks.
Simulate LCP of the suspected lens to see if fixing it will resolve the PLS by navigation type. If yes, this is where the resolution focus should be.
Use an automated optimization tool like Navigation AI to improve your PLS by navigation type.
Once you’ve improved PLS, set an alert to be the first to know if it starts worsening again.
Try it yourself
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