Page speed course curriculum

If you are interested in how to learn page speed, a beginner page speed tutorial can help. An introductory course can offer practical lessons in improving webpage load times, starting with fundamentals such as:

• Why speed is important for search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience (UX).

• How to measure page load speed.

• How to use web page speed test tools like Google Page Speed Insights and GTmetrix.

• How to use different methods to increase page speed, such as HTML / CSS / JavaScript minification, image optimization, and browser caching.

• How to use tools like W3 Total Cache, GZip’s compression feature, and WP Rocket to improve speed scores.

In an intermediate or advanced page speed course, you may cover:

• Google Core Web Vitals and metrics, like page performance score, first contentful paint (FCP), time to first byte (TTFB), and render-blocking resources.

• Content delivery networks (CDN), which can improve the loading speed.

• Advanced code optimization for JavaScript and CSS.

• Server-side techniques, like load balancing and database optimization.

• Advanced caching strategies.

Learning about page speed can supplement your knowledge of SEO and web development. For individuals who have an interest in studying these subjects, edX offers a wide array of educational opportunities. A boot camp can provide flexible, hands-on learning for those who want to upskill quickly, while executive education courses are designed for busy professionals. You can also pursue a more comprehensive curriculum through a bachelor’s degree program or, for more advanced learners, a master’s degree program. Find the right learning path for you with edX.

Explore page speed jobs

Page load speed is a critical factor in the search engine rankings and user experience of a website. Therefore, many jobs in the web development and digital marketing domains call for a solid understanding of page speed.

Jobs that may benefit from knowledge of how to improve page speed include:

• Web developer: Builds and maintains websites with their coding and programming skills. They work with the UI/UX developers to ensure that the website meets functionality and performance goals.^{Footnote 5}

• Front-end developer: Works on the user-facing aspects and visual elements of a website. They code and create the functional digital interface of a website based on the client's specifications.^{Footnote 6}

• Back-end developer: Works on everything that the users don't see on a website. They work with servers, databases, operating systems, and APIs to manage the website’s code.^{Footnote 7}

• SEO specialist: Works toward improving the search engine visibility and ranking of a website. They monitor website performance, identify areas of improvement, and work with web developers to enhance overall SEO performance.^{Footnote 8}

• Digital marketer: Strategizes on and executes online marketing campaigns to sell a product or service. They use a combination of channels to achieve marketing objectives, such as social media for brand awareness, email marketing for retention, or paid ads to acquire new customers.^{Footnote 9}

To acquire technical skills in web development, you can enroll in a coding boot camp. For those who may monitor page speed as part of customer engagement strategies, boot camps in digital marketing can provide instruction on landing page optimization techniques. UI/UX boot camps can also help you learn how complex design, interactive features, video content, animated content, and responsive elements impact the website loading speed.

Discover the wide range of online courses offered by edX and get started on the journey to upskill.

How to use page speed in your career

You can use your knowledge of page speed fundamentals to optimize the loading speed of a website in many roles. For example:

• Web developers know how to optimize the page speed of a website using best coding practices. They can work on the technical aspects of a website to improve the Core Web Vitals.

• Front-end developers use specific code optimization techniques like minification, caching, or compression to improve the loading speed of a website. They also reduce bloated code to improve the real-world user experience.

• Back-end developers work on the server side and use load balancing techniques, perform database optimizations, implement server-side caching, enable asynchronous loading, and optimize server response time to improve the page load speed of a website.

• SEO specialists may use page speed checkers (like Google’s page speed test, PageSpeed, and Google Search Console) for constant website monitoring and optimization of load speed. They work with developers to implement code changes with the goal of improving a website's performance on desktop and mobile devices.

• Digital marketers consider page speed a top priority. High page speed is good for an enhanced user experience and higher conversions. These marketers frequently work on landing pages with developers to ensure fast-loading content without compromising on UX.