Core Web Vitals are three measures of how a page feels to real visitors: loading speed (LCP, 2.5 seconds or less), responsiveness (INP, 200 milliseconds or less) and visual stability (CLS, 0.1 or less). A page is judged good when at least 75 percent of real visits meet all three.
What are the three Core Web Vitals?
| Metric | What it measures | Good |
|---|---|---|
| LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) | How fast the main content appears | 2.5 seconds or less |
| INP (Interaction to Next Paint) | How quickly the page responds when you tap or click | 200 milliseconds or less |
| CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) | How much the page jumps around while loading | 0.1 or less |
INP replaced an older measure called FID in March 2024. These targets are measured on real visitors at the 75th percentile, and the same thresholds apply on mobile and desktop.
How do I check my own site?
- Run your page through PageSpeed Insights and look at the real-user data first, then the lab score.
- Open the Core Web Vitals report in Google Search Console to see groups of slow pages.
- Test on a mid-range Android phone on mobile data, since that is how many customers in India will see your site.
What usually fixes slow pages?
- Compress and properly size images, and do not lazy-load the main image at the top of the page.
- Remove unused plugins, chat widgets and tracking scripts.
- Set width and height on images and ads so the layout does not jump.
- Load fonts efficiently and use as few font files as possible.
- Use caching and a content delivery network where your hosting allows.
Do Core Web Vitals decide my ranking?
They are one signal among many. They will not rescue weak content, but when two pages are equally helpful, a faster and steadier page has the edge. They also affect how visitors feel about your business, which matters more than the score.
Source: Google's web.dev guidance on Core Web Vitals thresholds.
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