What does "Visually complete" represent in web performance metrics?

"Visually complete" in web performance metrics refers to the point in time when all the elements that fall within the visible area of the user's viewport are fully loaded and rendered. This concept is crucial because it impacts the user's perception of page load times and overall user experience. When users can see and interact with all necessary components of a webpage without meaningless delays, it signals that the loading process has effectively reached a stage where they can engage with the content.

This metric is particularly important because a webpage can load various elements at different rates. While other load times focus on different aspects of the page's loading process, "visually complete" specifically indicates that the user can interact with the web page as intended. It addresses the user experience much more directly than options that measure initial data retrieval or total load times, as those do not account for the actual user experience during the page's display.