Glossary
speed
Core Web Vitals
Definition
Google's three key metrics for measuring website user experience: loading speed (LCP), interactivity (INP), and visual stability (CLS). These directly affect your search rankings.
Why Core Web Vitals Matter
Since 2021, Google has used Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor. Sites that score well get a boost in search results; sites that score poorly get pushed down.
The Three Metrics
LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)
How long it takes for the main content to appear. Should be under 2.5 seconds.
INP (Interaction to Next Paint)
How quickly the page responds when you click or tap. Should be under 200 milliseconds.
CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)
How much the page jumps around as it loads. Should be under 0.1.
How to Check Your Scores
Use PageSpeed Insights – it's free and gives you specific recommendations for improvement.