What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are a set of Google metrics that measure real-world page experience: loading speed (LCP), responsiveness to input (INP), and visual stability (CLS). They are part of how Google evaluates page experience.
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The three metrics
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) measures how quickly the main content loads. Interaction to Next Paint (INP) measures how fast the page responds when someone clicks, taps, or types. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures how much content moves around unexpectedly.
Good thresholds are LCP of 2.5 seconds or less, INP of 200 milliseconds or less, and CLS of 0.1 or less, assessed at the 75th percentile of real page visits separately for mobile and desktop.
Why they matter
Slow, jumpy, or unresponsive pages frustrate visitors and can cost you leads and sales. Core Web Vitals give you a shared way to measure that experience.
They are one of many signals Google considers, so improving them won't outweigh weak or irrelevant content. They do help remove friction for the people who do arrive.
How to check your scores
The Core Web Vitals report in Google Search Console groups your pages by status using real-user data. PageSpeed Insights shows the same metrics for a single URL, with suggestions for fixes.
Common questions
What are the three Core Web Vitals?
They are Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). Together they cover loading, interactivity, and visual stability.
Are Core Web Vitals a ranking factor?
Yes, they are part of Google's page experience signals. They are a lightweight factor compared with content relevance, so treat them as one part of overall site quality.
What is the difference between lab data and field data?
Lab data comes from a controlled test, like Lighthouse, and is useful for debugging. Field data comes from real visitors and reflects the experience people actually have.
Do Core Web Vitals change over time?
Google has updated the set before, for example by replacing First Input Delay with INP. Check Google's documentation for the current metrics and thresholds.
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