Troubleshooting Form Performance Using Query Monitor

When dealing with slow or unresponsive forms, identifying the performance bottlenecks is crucial. This guide shows how to use Query Monitor and browser developer tools to find where time is being spent during form rendering and submission.

Monitoring Page Execution Time with Query Monitor

If you're logged in as an admin user, Query Monitor will automatically be visible in the WordPress admin bar. Here's how to check page performance:

1. Open the Query Monitor Console

• Navigate to the page in question (where the form is rendered).
• In the top admin bar, click Query Monitor to open the console.

2. Use the Timings Tab

• Go to the Timings tab, located in the dropdown menu at the top of the Query Monitor panel.
• This view shows a breakdown of page load execution time, including:
  • Template rendering
  • Hooks and filters
  • Custom PHP functions
• Use this to identify which parts of the form consume the most time during page load or form submission.

This is especially helpful for diagnosing heavy server-side logic or misbehaving third-party plugins that impact initial form rendering.

Analyzing Form Submission via AJAX

For forms submitted with JavaScript (AJAX), Query Monitor won’t directly capture the performance inside the admin bar. Instead, use your browser’s Developer Tools.

1. Open the Browser Developer Console

• Press F12 or right-click → Inspect → Console tab.

2. Look for ICDS Debug Entries

• During the form submission process, look under the Info level messages in the Console.
• Entries with the prefix ICDS: will show execution time.

3. Cross-Reference with Network Tab (Optional)

• Use the Network tab to find the specific AJAX request made during submission.
• Check timing breakdown: Waiting (TTFB), Content Download, and Total time.

✅ Summary

Tool	Use Case	Visibility
Query Monitor (Timings Tab)	Page load rendering (form output and template performance)	Admin users only
Browser Console (ICDS prefix)	AJAX form submission and server-side profiling	All users via dev tools
Network Tab	Detailed HTTP request timing	All users via dev tools