Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals are a set of key performance metrics that Google uses to measure the quality and user experience of a website.

These metrics are:

  1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures the loading performance of the main content of a page.
  2. First Input Delay (FID): Measures the interactivity of a page by calculating the time from when a user first interacts with a page (clicks a link, taps on a button, etc.) to the time when the browser can begin processing event handlers in response to that interaction.
  3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures the visual stability of a page by calculating the sum of all individual layout shift scores for every unexpected layout shift that occurs during the loading of a page.

Importance in SEO

Core Web Vitals are essential for SEO because they are directly tied to user experience, which is a ranking factor for Google.

Websites that provide a fast, responsive, and stable experience are more likely to rank higher in search results, as they offer a better experience to users.

Example

A website with an LCP of 2.5 seconds or less, an FID of less than 100 milliseconds, and a CLS of less than 0.1 is considered to have good Core Web Vitals.

Do

  • Optimize images and media files to reduce page load times.
  • Minimize the use of third-party scripts and plugins that can slow down page load times.
  • Prioritize above-the-fold content to ensure it loads quickly.
  • Implement lazy loading for images and iframes to reduce the initial load time.
  • Use a content delivery network (CDN) to serve content from a location closer to the user.
  • Optimize the critical rendering path to reduce the time it takes for the browser to render the page.

Don’t

  • Overload pages with unnecessary elements that can slow down the page load.
  • Neglect to test your website on different devices and browsers to ensure a consistent user experience.
  • Fail to monitor and address Core Web Vitals issues, as they can change over time with updates or changes to the website.
  • Ignore user feedback or usability testing that could highlight areas for improvement.