What Are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are three important numbers that show how good and comfortable a web page feels to a visitor. Google uses these numbers to judge user experience and can use them as a ranking signal in search.
They focus on three things: how fast the main content appears, how quickly the page reacts when you tap or click, and how stable the layout is while you are reading.
Definition
Core Web Vitals are a set of user experience metrics created by Google. Each metric measures a different part of how people feel when they use a website.
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) measures loading. It checks how long it takes for the main content, like a big image or heading, to fully show on the screen.
- Interaction to Next Paint (INP) measures interactivity. It looks at how fast the page responds when a user clicks, taps, or types.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures visual stability. It checks how much things jump or move around while the page is loading.
Good Core Web Vitals scores mean the page loads quickly, reacts fast, and does not unexpectedly move content around.
Why Core Web Vitals Matters
Core Web Vitals matter because they connect directly to how real people feel when they visit your site. If your scores are poor, users may get annoyed and leave.
- Better user experience People can read, click, and scroll without delays or page jumps.
- Better business results Happy visitors are more likely to stay longer, sign up, or buy something.
- Search visibility Google uses Core Web Vitals as part of how it ranks pages. Better scores can help you compete in search results against similar pages.
How Core Web Vitals Works
Core Web Vitals are measured in two main ways.
- Lab data Tools like Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights test a page in a controlled way. This helps you debug problems while building or fixing a site.
- Field data Real user data from Chrome users shows how the page behaves for real people on different devices and networks.
Google looks mainly at field data from the last 28 days. For each metric, it wants most visits to be in the good range.
- LCP should usually be 2.5 seconds or faster.
- INP should usually be 200 milliseconds or faster.
- CLS should usually be 0.1 or lower.
Example of Core Web Vitals
Imagine you open an online store page on your phone.
- If the main product image appears within 2 seconds, that is good LCP.
- If the Add to Cart button reacts almost instantly when you tap it, that is good INP.
- If the price and button stay in the same place and do not jump down when an ad loads, that is good CLS.
When all three feel smooth, the page has strong Core Web Vitals.
FAQs
Is Core Web Vitals a ranking factor in Google Search?
Yes, Core Web Vitals are one of many signals that Google can use for rankings. They will not beat very poor content, but they can help pages with similar quality compete.
How can I check my Core Web Vitals?
You can use tools like Google Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, Chrome User Experience Report, and the Core Web Vitals extension in Chrome to see your scores.
How do I improve Core Web Vitals?
Common steps include compressing and resizing images, using faster hosting, loading only needed code, delaying non critical scripts, reserving space for ads and images, and fixing heavy or blocking JavaScript.
Are Core Web Vitals the only speed metrics?
No, there are other metrics like First Contentful Paint or Time to First Byte. Core Web Vitals are just the three main user focused metrics that Google highlights.
