01/Glossary · Tech
Core Web Vitals
Three Google metrics that measure the user's real web experience: load speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
02/Full definition
Core Web Vitals are three metrics Google uses as an SEO ranking factor since 2021. They are: (1) **LCP** (Largest Contentful Paint) — how long the largest visible element takes to appear; goal <2.5s. (2) **INP** (Interaction to Next Paint) — how fast it responds to clicks/taps; goal <200ms. (3) **CLS** (Cumulative Layout Shift) — how much the layout "jumps" while loading; goal <0.1. Sites that pass all 3 rank better.
03/In Costa Rica context
In Costa Rica where a good portion of traffic is mobile 4G (not fiber), passing Core Web Vitals is especially important. Sites built with Next.js 16 + Vercel already pass LCP and CLS by default; what usually needs work is image optimization (webp/avif), aggressive code-splitting, and avoiding layout shifts with explicit dimensions on hero images.
04/Related reading on the site
05/Related terms
06/Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my site's Core Web Vitals?▾
Lighthouse in Chrome DevTools (lab data) and PageSpeed Insights (lab + field data). For continuous tracking use Vercel Speed Insights or Google Search Console (Core Web Vitals section).
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