June 05, 20267 min read
Google relies on user experience metrics to rank search outcomes. Known as Core Web Vitals, these guidelines measure how fast a page loads, how quickly it becomes interactive, and whether visual elements jump around during loading phases.
LCP, FID, and CLS Explained
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures loading speed. To provide a good user experience, LCP should occur within 2.5 seconds of when the page first starts loading.
- First Input Delay (FID) / Interaction to Next Paint (INP): Measures responsiveness. Pages should have an INP of 200 milliseconds or less.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures visual stability. To provide a good user experience, pages should maintain a CLS of less than 0.1.
Why Next.js is an SEO Powerhouse
By default, Next.js implements server-side rendering, static page optimization, automatic image resizing (`next/image`), and font self-hosting. These out-of-the-box configurations address performance bottlenecks, giving you a major leg up in ranking lists.
