What is PLS by navigation method
PLS by navigation method breaks down Perceived Load Speed (PLS) by how users reach a page: through a hard navigation (full page load) or soft navigation (in-page route change, such as single-page application transitions).
PLS, or Perceived Load Speed, measures how fast a page feels to load from a user’s perspective — not just when elements technically finish loading, but when the page looks and feels ready for interaction. This lens helps you see how different navigation types affect that experience.
Navigation Method | Description |
Hard Navigation | Traditional full page load — typically when a user lands from external URL, reloads, or opens a page in a new tab. |
Soft Navigation | Client-side transition without full reload — common in SPAs or when clicking internal links. |
Healthy PLS by navigation method sample
Should you worry
In a healthy scenario, soft navigations should typically have better (faster) perceived load speeds than hard navigations. This is because fewer resources are reloaded and transitions feel smoother to users.
If both types are performing well, you’re delivering a good experience no matter how users move around your site.
Unhealthy PLS by navigation method sample
If hard navigations show significantly higher PLS values than soft ones, it indicates that full page loads are too heavy or inefficient. This can degrade first impressions — especially on landing pages — and increase bounce rates.
In some cases, even soft navigations may suffer due to JavaScript-heavy rendering or delayed hydration. That means the benefits of in-app routing aren’t being realized fully.
Resolving unhealthy PLS by navigation method
Go-to action plan to resolve an unhealthy PLS by navigation method:
Ask Uxi to analyze your PLS by navigation method and suggest improvements.
Use Filters to focus on pages with high PLS during hard navigations, especially those with high entry traffic.
Simulate LCP of the suspected lens to see if fixing it will resolve the PLS by navigation method. If yes, this is where the resolution focus should be.
Use an automated optimization tool like Navigation AI to improve your PLS by navigation method.
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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