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answer: direct
beat: web-performance
source: 1 article · updated: November 14, 2026
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How do I decide whether to make something asynchronous?

If the user does not need the result to continue, take it off the request path: send the email, resize the image, update the analytics in the background. Return fast with an acknowledgement. Keep it synchronous only when the next step depends on the answer.

Answered in

Reducing Latency: Find the Layer First, Then Pull the Right Lever

Network, processing, database and rendering delay need different fixes. Caching, CDNs, indexes, async work, compression, connection reuse and tail latency.

Crashtech Editorial November 14, 2026 Web Performance

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