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Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

Tags: Browser

I’ve noticed my browser slows down when using multiple extensions. Has anyone else experienced this, and do you think certain extensions impact website performance? Any tips to avoid slowdowns?

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In reply to Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

It doesn’t seem to be the performance of the website. It’s the performance of your browser.

The effect of an extension depends on the extension. Some are lighter, some are heavier. And maybe on the amount of RAM in your PC and the number of tabs you have open and what they do.

Time to experiment. Can you tell the results of your research?

Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

In reply to Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

Website extensions have an impact on the browser measurable in milliseconds and this is normally displayed in performance graphs and process meters.

However, badly written web browser extensions will have a more detrimental impact on browser performance.

This is usually when the browser extension in question contains code that is more about information gathering from the user and computer instead of the general purpose it was developed for i.e. tracking user experience when visiting a certain URL and what the user does when they are visiting pages within a URL.

This type of ”rogue” extension will work even when the URL associated with the browser extension is not accessed.

Some browser extensions also do not always go through the same rigorous testing procedures as apps (applications) do.

I recently installed a browser extension (I will not name the author) however, it ignored operating system parameters set by the user which superseded it’s duty and also lead to me creating a support ticket in an attempt to reverse the indirect consequences of installing the browser extension.

The issue was resolved with resetting the parameters from the operating system settings again, however, the changes made were not expected and were unwanted.

Make sure the browser extension has a purpose outside of the user experience gained from visiting the URL and associated pages.

If you feel that it is effecting browser performance to the detriment of user experience, remove it and report it to it’s author.

Reply To: Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

In reply to Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

I’ve definitely run into that problem before! When I had a bunch of extensions, my browser would slow down like crazy. I noticed ad blockers were the biggest culprits. Now, I try to keep it simple by only using the ones I really need. I also started using a separate browser for things like streaming and shopping, which helps keep my main one running smoother.

Reply To: Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

In reply to Do Browser Extensions Affect Website Performance?

Yeah, I’ve definitely felt that slowdown with multiple extensions. Some extensions can be pretty resource-heavy, especially ad blockers and toolbars. To avoid slowdowns, try disabling the ones you don’t use often or check for lighter alternatives. Also, keeping your browser updated helps a lot.

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