There are many techniques you can use to improve drawing performance of your features and maps, both for display in ArcMap and for maps served over the Web. A map that draws quickly will provide a better foundation for GIS analysis and data compilation in the ArcMap environment and will provide a better experience for users if it is published via ArcGIS Server.
The various methods of improving performance all share one fundamental strategy: The fewer processing decisions that ArcMap makes at draw time, the faster a map will draw. Often, making small changes to map symbology and the properties of data frames and map layers can generate a significant reduction in a map's drawing time.
To learn how to design maps to perform, see the following topics: