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Language Model API Performance Benchmarking Methodology (Artificial Analysis)
Artificial Analysis, Artificial Analysis, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- The methodology page of an independent benchmarking site that measures the speed of large language model APIs. It defines the terms it uses, including time to first token, and says how each figure is measured and aggregated.
- How much weight it carries
- Independent benchmark with a published method, so the definitions can be checked. It describes how it measures language model APIs from one test server location, so the figures are not a guarantee for any app's own pipeline, and it says results change with load and prompt length.
Facts taken from this source
- Artificial Analysis defines time to first token for language model APIs as the number of seconds between sending a request and receiving the first token of the response. This is the delay a user waits before any words of a reply appear.
“The time in seconds between sending a request to the service or system and receiving the first token of the response.” (Key Definitions: Time to First Token)