What is Core Web Vitals?
A set of specific factors that Google considers important in a webpage's overall user experience.
Deep Dive
Core Web Vitals are part of Google's 'Page Experience' signal. They measure how fast a page loads, how responsive it is to interactions, and how stable the layout is.
The three main metrics are LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), FID (First Input Delay), and CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift). Scoring well here is a ranking factor.
Key Takeaways
- Direct ranking factor for Google Search.
- Impacts user retention and conversion rates.
- Requires technical optimization of images, scripts, and CSS.
- Measured using tools like PageSpeed Insights.
Why This Matters Now
Google got tired of ranking slow, annoying websites just because they had good keywords. So they introduced CWV to quantify 'Annoyance'.
It forces developers to care about the user. Does the page shift when I try to click? (CLS). Does it take 5 seconds to show the hero image? (LCP). If yes, you get a ranking penalty.
Common Myths & Misconceptions
100/100 score guarantees #1 ranking.
Reality:No. Content is still King. A fast page with bad content will lose to a slow page with amazing content. CWV is a tie-breaker.
It's only for mobile.
Reality:It started mobile-first, but now Desktop CWV is also a ranking factor.
Real-World Use Cases
Fixing CLS: Specifying width/height attributes on images so the text doesn't jump around when the image loads.
Improving LCP: Upgrading your hosting or using a CDN to deliver the main banner image faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is INP?
Interaction to Next Paint. It replaced FID (First Input Delay) in 2024. It measures how quickly the page responds when you click a button.
How do I check my score?
Google Search Console > Core Web Vitals report. It uses real user data (Chrome User Experience Report), not just lab data.
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