Interaction to Next Paint (INP): New Metric in Core Web Vitals: The quality of a web page is determined by several factors, many of which are invisible to the average user. One of these components is the Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics that Google has introduced to evaluate the user experience on a website. They play a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO), as they directly influence the user experience on a web page. A better user experience leads to higher visibility in Google's search results, which in turn drives more traffic to your website.
Core Web Vitals include metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)., which measure aspects such as load time, interactivity, and visual stability. Google recently introduced a new metric called Interaction to Next Paint (INP) introduced, which evaluates the responsiveness of a web page to user interactions.
In this article, we will focus on this particular metric, the Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and how we as Performance optimization specialized online marketing agency can help improve them.
Table of contents
- What is Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
- Google Search Console reports Interaction to Next Paint (INP) issues
- How is INP different from First Input Delay (FID)?
- How do you measure the Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
- How to optimize the Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
- Conclusion on the development and importance of Core Web Vitals
What is Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
Interaction to Next Paint (INP) is a new metric that measures the time that elapses between a user interaction and the next "Paint" event on the web page. A "Paint" event occurs when a visual change occurs on the web page, such as loading an image or changing the text color. INP measures the time it takes for this change to become visible after user interaction.
INP is particularly important because it measures the perceived responsiveness of a web page. When a user clicks a button and the web page responds immediately, the web page feels fast and responsive. However, if there is a delay, it can lead to frustration and affect the user experience.
Google recommends that the INP time under 100 milliseconds should be in order to ensure a good user experience. Websites that exceed this threshold could be ranked lower in Google's search results.
Google Search Console reports Interaction to Next Paint (INP) issues
Google has recently started sending notifications to Google Search Console users who have websites that do not or insufficiently meet the future requirements for INP. These notifications are an important indication that action is needed to improve user experience and thus SEO ranking.
An example of such a notification could look like this:
Core Web Vitals-INP problems detected on your websites
Google is moving to a new metric, Interaction to Next Paint (INP), which measures website responsiveness and will replace FID as the Core Web Vital starting in March 2024.
Search Console has detected INP issues in the following properties. Click a property in the following list to open the INP report for that property (a maximum of 10 properties are displayed):
XYZ.com
We recommend website owners to aim for good Core Web Vitals values in order to be successful in Google search and to provide a high user experience in general. These and other aspects of site usability meet the requirements of our ranking systems.
These notifications are an important indication that Google takes INP values seriously and websites that do not meet these requirements may be ranked lower in search results. As an online marketing agency that focuses on Performance optimization specializes in, we can help you fix these problems and improve your INP levels.
How is INP different from First Input Delay (FID)?
First Input Delay (FID) is another Core Web Vital metric that measures the time it takes from a user's first interaction until the web page responds. While FID and INP may seem similar, there are some important differences.
First measures FID only the delay the first interaction, while INP the delay of all interactions measures. This means that INP provides a more comprehensive picture of the responsiveness of a web page. Second, FID measures the time taken for the web page to respond, while INP measures the time taken for the next "paint" event. This means that INP also takes into account the time it takes to display the visual changes on the web page.
The introduction of INP does not mean that FID becomes irrelevant. Both metrics provide valuable information about the responsiveness of a website and should be taken into account when optimizing the user experience.
How do you measure the Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
Measuring INP can be done with several tools, including Google Chrome DevTools, Lighthouse, and the Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX). These tools provide detailed reports on INP times and other Core Web Vitals metrics.
It is important to note that INP times can vary, depending on various factors such as network speed, the user's hardware, and the complexity of the web page. Therefore, it is important to monitor and optimize INP times regularly to ensure a consistently good user experience.
How to optimize the Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
Optimizing INP requires a thorough analysis of the website and identifying areas that can be improved. Some common strategies for improving INP include reducing the amount of JavaScript on the page, optimizing network performance, and improving browser rendering performance.
It can also be helpful to prioritize interactions on the website and ensure that the most important interactions are completed as quickly as possible. This can be achieved, for example, by loading critical resources in advance or moving less important tasks to the background.
As an online marketing agency that specializes in Performance optimization specializes in, we can help you improve your INP to provide a better user experience and improve your SEO.
Conclusion on the development and importance of Core Web Vitals
The Core Web Vitals are an important part of the SEO strategy and play a crucial role in the quality and user experience of a website. With the introduction of INP, Google has added another metric to help web developers improve the responsiveness of their websites.
Optimizing INP and other Core Web Vitals can be challenging, but it also presents a great opportunity. By improving these metrics, you can not only improve your SEO, but also improve the user experience on your website, attracting and retaining more users.
As an online marketing agency specializing in performance optimization, we're ready to help you meet this challenge. Contact us today to learn how we can help you improve your INP and take your website to the next level.
