Typing speed is typically measured in WPM — words per minute. But WPM has a meaningful flaw: what counts as a "word" varies, and the standard definition (5 characters = 1 word) means two people with the same WPM score may have very different actual throughput depending on what they're typing. CPM — characters per minute — is the more precise underlying metric. Here's how to think about both, and why it matters for developers specifically. WPM: The Standard Metric WPM = (total characters typed / 5) / minutes elapsed The division by 5 converts character count to a "word" count using the standard 5-character word definition. This normalises for word length, making WPM scores comparable across different text samples. WPM is net WPM if error correction is included: Net WPM = ((total characters - errors) / 5) / minutes Most typing tests report net WPM, deducting for uncorrected errors. CPM: The Underlying Metric CPM = total characters typed / minutes elapsed CPM is the raw throughput measure.…