From dwell (verb) + time (noun). Dwell derives from Old English dwellan (to lead astray, hinder, delay), later shifting to mean 'to remain, abide, stay' in Middle English — from Proto-Germanic dwaljaną. The noun phrase dwell time as a technical compound is modern, emerging in engineering and manufacturing contexts in the mid-20th century, and adopted into digital and retail analytics by the 2000s.
What does dwell time mean?
Dwell time means the amount of time spent at or in a specific location. In SEO, it is the time a user spends on a web page after clicking a search result, before returning to the results page. In transport, it is the time a vehicle spends at a stop. In retail, it is the time a customer spends near a product display or in a store section.
What is dwell time in SEO?
In SEO, dwell time is the length of time between a user clicking on a search result and returning to the search engine results page (SERP). A longer dwell time is generally considered a positive signal — it suggests the content satisfied the user's intent. It is distinct from 'time on page', which doesn't track whether the user returned to the SERP.
How is dwell time measured in retail?
In retail, dwell time is measured using foot traffic sensors (infrared, Wi-Fi, or camera-based), heatmapping software, or RFID tags. It is typically calculated per zone, display, or aisle, and is reported as average dwell time in seconds or minutes. High dwell time near a product generally correlates with higher purchase likelihood.
What is dwell time in public transport?
In public transport, dwell time is the time a bus or train spends stationary at a stop while passengers board and alight. It is a key operational metric — excessive dwell time reduces network capacity and causes schedule delays. It is affected by the number of passengers, door configuration, and fare payment method.
What is the difference between dwell time and bounce rate?
Bounce rate measures the proportion of sessions in which a user views only one page before leaving. Dwell time measures how long they stayed during that session. A page can have a high bounce rate but a long dwell time — for example, a long-form article that users read fully before leaving.