%% date:: [[2023-04-30]] parent:: [[Measurement]], [[Frontend performance testing]] sibling:: [[Field data]] opposite:: [[Field data]] %% # [[Lab data]] Lab data refers to information gathered in a synthetic or controlled environment. It is the opposite of [[Field data]], which is collected within real conditions. ## Advantages of lab data - It is easily automated and repeatable, because it uses the same conditions every time. - Tools that collect lab data tend to be simpler to build and to use, because they often only require a URL to run against. - It's good for troubleshooting very specific issues because it fixes a lot of variables that might otherwise muddy the results. ## Disadvantages of lab data - It's not realistic, and purposely discounts a lot of variables that could have potentially huge impacts on [[User Experience]]. ## In frontend performance testing In [[Frontend performance testing]], lab data refers to measurements taken within experimental conditions, where variables are highly controlled. [[Google Lighthouse]] relies exclusively on lab data. [^google]: Google. *Why lab and field data can be different (and what to do about it).* Retrieved April 30, 2023 from https://web.dev/lab-and-field-data-differences/