Core Web Vitals are a set of specific factors that Google
considers important in determining the quality of user experience provided by a
web page. They focus on aspects of web page performance such as loading speed,
interactivity, and visual stability.
As of my last update, the Core Web Vitals include:
1. Largest Contentful
Paint (LCP): This metric measures how long it takes for the main content of
a web page to load. Ideally, LCP should occur within 2.5 seconds of when the
page first starts loading.
2. First Input Delay
(FID): FID measures the time it takes for a web page to become interactive.
It quantifies the responsiveness of a page when a user first interacts with it,
such as clicking a button or a link. A good FID score is less than 100 milliseconds.
3. Cumulative Layout
Shift (CLS): CLS measures the visual stability of a web page by quantifying
how much content shifts around as the page loads. It aims to prevent unexpected
layout shifts that can be disruptive to users. A CLS score of less than 0.1 is
considered good.
These Core Web Vitals are part of Google's broader effort to
prioritize user experience in search rankings. Websites that provide a better
user experience, as measured by Core Web Vitals and other factors, are more
likely to rank higher in search results.
Therefore, optimizing for Core Web Vitals is essential for
improving the performance and visibility of websites on the web.
How to check core web vitals
To check Core Web Vitals for your website, you can use
various tools provided by Google and other third-party services. Here are some
popular options:
1. Google PageSpeed
Insights: Google PageSpeed Insights is a free tool that analyzes the
content of a web page and generates suggestions to make it faster. It provides
Core Web Vitals scores along with detailed recommendations for improvement. You
can access it at [PageSpeed Insights](https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/).
2. Google Search
Console: Google Search Console now includes a Core Web Vitals report that shows
how your site performs in terms of these metrics. This report provides an
overview of your site's performance and highlights areas that need improvement.
3. Chrome DevTools:
Chrome DevTools includes built-in tools for analyzing web page performance, including
Core Web Vitals. You can access these tools by opening Chrome, right-clicking
on a web page, selecting "Inspect," and then navigating to the
"Performance" tab.
4. Web Vitals Chrome
Extension: Google offers a Chrome extension called Web Vitals that provides
real-time analysis of a web page's Core Web Vitals. You can install it from the
Chrome Web Store and use it to quickly assess the performance of any web page
you visit.
5. Lighthouse:
Lighthouse is an open-source tool for auditing web page performance,
accessibility, and more. It's integrated into Chrome DevTools and also
available as a standalone command-line tool or Chrome extension. Lighthouse
generates comprehensive reports that include Core Web Vitals scores.
Using these tools, you can regularly monitor your website's
Core Web Vitals and make necessary optimizations to improve user experience and
search engine rankings.
How do I fix core web vital issues on a WordPress site?
Fixing Core Web Vitals issues on a WordPress site involves
several steps:
1. Optimize Images:
Compress and resize images to reduce their file size without compromising
quality. You can use plugins like Smush or Imagify to automate this process.
2. Minify CSS and
JavaScript: Minification reduces the size of CSS and JavaScript files by
removing unnecessary characters like comments and whitespace. Plugins like WP
Rocket or Autoptimize can help with this.
3. Leverage Browser
Caching: Set expiration dates for resources to instruct browsers to cache
them locally. Plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache can assist in
implementing browser caching.
4. Enable GZIP
Compression: Compressing your site's files with GZIP can significantly
reduce loading times. Many caching plugins offer GZIP compression as a feature.
5. Reduce Server
Response Time: Opt for a reliable hosting provider and consider using a
Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve your content from servers closer to
your visitors.
6. Eliminate
Render-Blocking Resources: Identify and defer or asynchronously load
render-blocking CSS and JavaScript resources to improve page rendering speed.
This can be done manually or using optimization plugins.
7. Optimize Fonts:
Use system fonts or optimize custom fonts to reduce their impact on loading
times.
8. Prioritize Visible
Content: Ensure that critical content loads first to improve perceived
performance. Lazy loading images and videos can help achieve this.
9. Address Cumulative
Layout Shift (CLS): Ensure that elements on your pages do not unexpectedly
shift during loading. Properly size images and reserve space for ads and
embedded content to prevent layout shifts.
10. Regularly Monitor
and Test: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, or GTmetrix
to regularly test your site's performance and identify areas for improvement.
By steadily addressing these areas, you can improve your WordPress site's Core Web Vitals and overall performance.