---
name: "CURLINFO_STARTTRANSFER_TIME"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "curl"
version: "8.23.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLINFO_STARTTRANSFER_TIME"
---

# CURLINFO\_STARTTRANSFER\_TIME(3)

time to first byte received

## NAME

CURLINFO\_STARTTRANSFER\_TIME - time to first byte received

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_getinfo(CURL *handle, CURLINFO_STARTTRANSFER_TIME,
                           double *timep);
```

## DESCRIPTION

Pass a pointer to a double to receive the time, in seconds, it took from the start until the first byte is received by libcurl. This includes *[CURLINFO\_PRETRANSFER\_TIME(3)](/CURLINFO_PRETRANSFER_TIME/3.md)* and also the time the server needs to calculate the result.

When a redirect is followed, the time from each request is added together.

See also the TIMES overview in the *[curl\_easy\_getinfo(3)](/curl_easy_getinfo/3.md)* man page.

## PROTOCOLS

This functionality affects all supported protocols

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    CURLcode result;
    double start;
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com");
    result = curl_easy_perform(curl);
    if(result == CURLE_OK) {
      result = curl_easy_getinfo(curl, CURLINFO_STARTTRANSFER_TIME, &start);
      if(result == CURLE_OK) {
        printf("Time: %.1f", start);
      }
    }
    /* always cleanup */
    curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in curl 7.9.2

## RETURN VALUE

*[curl\_easy\_getinfo(3)](/curl_easy_getinfo/3.md)* returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.

CURLE\_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error occurred, see *[libcurl-errors(3)](/libcurl-errors/3.md)*.

## SEE ALSO

[**CURLINFO\_STARTTRANSFER\_TIME\_T**(3)](/CURLINFO_STARTTRANSFER_TIME_T/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_TIMEOUT**(3)](/CURLOPT_TIMEOUT/3.md), [**curl\_easy\_getinfo**(3)](/curl_easy_getinfo/3.md), [**curl\_easy\_setopt**(3)](/curl_easy_setopt/3.md)