SEO

Core Web Vitals

Quick definition

Core Web Vitals are a set of Google-defined user-experience metrics measuring loading performance (LCP), interactivity (INP), and visual stability (CLS).

Introduced as a ranking signal in 2021, Core Web Vitals are part of Google's Page Experience signals. They're measured from real users' Chrome data via the CrUX dataset.

Why Core Web Vitals matters

While the ranking impact per page is modest, poor CWV scores can suppress rankings across an entire site, especially when other quality signals are also weak.

How Core Web Vitals works in practice

Track CWV in Search Console's Core Web Vitals report and PageSpeed Insights. Prioritize fixes on templated pages that affect many URLs at once.

Best practices

  • Optimize hero images and fonts for LCP.
  • Reduce JavaScript main-thread work for INP.
  • Reserve image and ad space to prevent layout shift.
  • Measure real-user data, not just lab tests.

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