Dwell time is a metric in the field of search engine optimisation (SEO) and web analytics that measures the time a user spends on a website after reaching it via the search results of a search engine and before returning to the search results page. This metric is often considered an indicator of the quality and relevance of a website or a particular piece of content. Although search engine providers, including Google, do not officially confirm that dwell time is a direct ranking factor, there is a widespread assumption that a longer dwell time is generally positive for search engine optimisation.

However, the importance of dwell time goes beyond pure SEO. It can also be seen as a measure of user engagement and satisfaction. A longer dwell time indicates that users are likely to find more engaging and valuable content and therefore spend more time on the page. In this context, dwell time can serve as an indicator of the effectiveness of content strategies, user interface design and other elements of the user experience.

In the context of data analysis and optimisation, dwell time should be considered in combination with other metrics such as bounce rate, page views per session and average session duration to get a more comprehensive picture of user interaction and satisfaction. By analysing this data, webmasters and marketers can make targeted improvements to optimise user experience and ultimately search engine rankings.