Core Web Vitals
Monitor the three metrics Google uses to evaluate the user experience of your pages.
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What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are three metrics defined by Google to measure the real user experience of a web page. They were incorporated into Google's ranking algorithm in 2021 under the name "Page Experience Update".
These three metrics are: LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), which measures the time before the main content is visible - the target is under 2.5 seconds. INP (Interaction to Next Paint), which measures the page's responsiveness to user interactions - the target is under 200 milliseconds. And CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift), which measures visual stability during loading - the target is under 0.1.
These are not theoretical metrics: Google collects them from real users in the field via Chrome and uses them directly in its ranking criteria.
Why it matters
Why Core Web Vitals influence your SEO
An official Google ranking signal
Google has confirmed that Core Web Vitals are part of its algorithm. On queries where multiple pages are of equivalent quality, CWV can make the difference.
A high CLS drives visitors away
An unstable layout - buttons shifting, text jumping during load - creates a frustrating experience. Visitors leave the page before they even have time to read it.
Slow LCP = pages that feel broken
If the main content takes more than 4 seconds to appear, the majority of mobile visitors will abandon the page. Every second of delay costs traffic and conversions.
Invisible regressions without monitoring
An improperly sized image, a slow third-party script, or a layout change can degrade your CWV without you noticing immediately.
In Trakup
How Trakup monitors your Core Web Vitals
Trakup measures the LCP, INP, and CLS of each analyzed page via Lighthouse. Values are compared against Google's official thresholds and displayed with a color code: green (good), orange (needs improvement), red (poor).
At each scan, values are recorded in the history. If a metric crosses into the red between two scans, Trakup can automatically alert you via Slack or Discord.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Field CWV come from real data collected by Chrome from actual users. Lab CWV (like those from Lighthouse) simulate a page load under controlled conditions. Trakup measures CWV in lab conditions, ideal for detecting regressions after a deployment.
The main causes of a high CLS are: images without defined dimensions, ads that load late and push content down, and web fonts that cause FOUT. Trakup identifies the affected pages; the Lighthouse audit details the responsible elements.
Google replaced FID with INP in March 2024. INP measures responsiveness throughout the entire user session, not just on the first click. Trakup measures INP in line with current standards.
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