The Core Web Vitals

  • LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): Loading speed — target <2.5 seconds
  • INP (Interaction to Next Paint): Responsiveness — target <200ms
  • CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Visual stability — target <0.1
2026 Update: Google is testing "Interaction Value" — an AI-derived metric measuring utility per second spent on page. This could become the next Core Web Vital.

Quick Wins for Speed

  • Lazy-load images below the fold
  • Preload critical fonts and CSS
  • Use next-gen image formats (WebP, AVIF)
  • Minimize JavaScript execution time
  • Implement server-side rendering for JS-heavy sites