What is TPS on a Minecraft Server?

You will hear TPS referenced in regards to Minecraft servers, so in this quick article, we are going to go over exactly what TPS is on a Minecraft server, how to check it, and why it is important. 

💥 What is TPS & how is it used on a Minecraft server? 

TPS is an abbreviation for Ticks Per Second, and you can think of it as a measurement of your server’s performance. 

In Minecraft, a tick is a unit of time equivalent to 1/20th of a second. The game processes events, such as block updates, mob movement, and player actions, in ‘ticks.’

Ideally, a server should maintain around a TPS of 20, which means that it can process 20 ticks per second. This is the optimal rate for smooth gameplay and seamless interactions within the game world.

⚡ Why is TPS important?

A TPS in the 19 to 20 range makes for the best experience on your Minecraft server. When the TPS drops below this, it can result in issues such as:

• Lag: Low TPS can cause server lag, making the game unresponsive and frustrating for players.
• Block and entity update delays: Low TPS can result in delayed updates of blocks and entities, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
• Choppy gameplay: Players might experience stuttering movement, block placement, and block destruction, creating a subpar experience.

📝 How To Check TPS on a Minecraft Server

In order to check your TPS, you will need a Spigot, Paper, or PurPur server. 

Once you have one of these servers setup, you can run the /tps command to get a real-time snapshot of your TPS in chat. You will be able to see your TPS over last 1, 5, and 15 minutes. 

We recommend focusing on the 5 and 15 minute TPS readings as minute to minute fluctuations can be normal and not cause any issues in-game.