In recent years, Core Web Vitals have become a hot topic in the world of web performance and SEO. Introduced by Google as part of their page experience signals, these metrics aim to quantify how users experience a web page in terms of speed, responsiveness, and visual stability. They are:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – measures loading performance.
- First Input Delay (FID) (soon replaced by INP – Interaction to Next Paint) – measures interactivity.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – measures visual stability.
If your site meets the "good" thresholds for these metrics, that’s great — it means users are likely getting a smoother, faster experience. And yes, Google has confirmed that Core Web Vitals are used as a ranking signal.
But here’s the important nuance: they are one signal among hundreds.
Don't Chase the Score
It's tempting to obsess over your Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights score, tweaking every script and CSS file to move from a 91 to a 96. But ranking well in search goes far beyond just performance metrics. Content relevance, backlinks, user intent, mobile usability, and even page structure all carry more weight in most cases.
In fact, many top-ranking sites don’t have perfect Core Web Vitals. Why? Because Google’s primary mission is to serve the most relevant content — not necessarily the fastest.
Focus on Real Impact
Instead of treating Core Web Vitals as a checklist, think of them as a user experience compass. Improving LCP or CLS should be about creating a better site for your visitors — not just chasing green bars.
A fast, stable page creates trust. But a fast page with poor content, bad design, or confusing navigation won’t win users or search rankings.
Conclusion
Core Web Vitals matter. But they’re not a magic bullet for SEO. Use them as a guide to improve how your site feels to real people — not as the sole measure of success.
After all, a website is built for users, not just algorithms.
