What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that assess the user experience on web pages. They include:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) for load performance,
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) for visual stability, and
- First Input Delay (FID) for interactivity.
Google uses Core Web Vitals in their ranking systems as page experience signals. Other page experience signals include mobile friendliness, HTTPS (secure connection), and the absence of intrusive interstitials.
Core Web Vitals Metrics
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
LCP measures the loading performance of a web page. It marks the point in the page load timeline when the main content has likely loaded. To provide a good user experience, LCP should occur within 2.5 seconds of when the page first starts loading.
First Input Delay (FID)
FID measures the time from when a user first interacts with a page (like clicking a link or tapping a button) to the time when the browser responds to that interaction. A good FID score is less than 100 milliseconds.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
CLS measures the visual stability of a page. It quantifies how much the page layout shifts unexpectedly during the loading phase. A good CLS score is less than 0.1.
Importance of Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are crucial for providing a good user experience. Pages that meet the recommended targets for these metrics are likely to perform better in search engine rankings because they offer a more seamless and enjoyable experience for users.
Recommended Values for Core Web Vitals
According to Google’s documentation, to provide a good user experience, the Core Web Vitals for pages should be:
- LCP: less than 2.5 seconds
- FID: less than 100 milliseconds
- CLS: less than 0.1
How to Measure Core Web Vitals
You can measure Core Web Vitals using various tools:
- Google PageSpeed Insights: Provides an overview of your site's performance, including Core Web Vitals.
- Google Search Console: Offers a Core Web Vitals report that shows performance data for your website.
- Lighthouse: An open-source tool integrated into Chrome DevTools that audits web page performance.
Improving Core Web Vitals
Improving Core Web Vitals can involve several strategies:
- Optimizing Images and Videos: Compress and properly size images and videos to improve LCP.
- Minimizing JavaScript: Reduce JavaScript execution time to improve FID.
- Stabilizing Content: Use dimensions for images and videos, avoid inserting content above existing content to improve CLS.
Learn More
For a detailed guide on Core Web Vitals and how to improve them, visit our article: What Are Core Web Vitals & How Can You Improve Them?
For more insights on improving your website's performance and SEO, visit the Ranktracker Blog and explore our comprehensive SEO Guide. Additionally, familiarize yourself with key SEO terms and concepts in our SEO Glossary.
