What to Know:
– Google is introducing a new page experience metric called Interaction to Next Paint (INP).
– INP measures the time it takes for a page to become interactive after the user initiates an action.
– INP is part of Google’s Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics that measure the user experience on websites.
– INP is important because it affects a website’s ranking in Google search results.
– To improve INP, website owners can optimize their code, reduce third-party scripts, and prioritize critical resources.
The Full Story:
Google is constantly updating its algorithms to provide users with the best possible search experience. One of the latest updates is the introduction of a new page experience metric called Interaction to Next Paint (INP). INP is part of Google’s Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics that measure the user experience on websites.
INP measures the time it takes for a page to become interactive after the user initiates an action, such as clicking a button or scrolling. It is an important metric because it directly affects the user experience. If a page takes too long to become interactive, users may become frustrated and leave the website.
INP is measured in milliseconds, and Google has set a target of 100 milliseconds or less for a good user experience. If a page has an INP of more than 100 milliseconds, it may be considered a poor user experience and could negatively impact the website’s ranking in Google search results.
To improve INP and provide a better user experience, website owners can take several steps:
1. Optimize Code: One of the main factors that can affect INP is the efficiency of the website’s code. Bloated or poorly optimized code can slow down the page and increase the time it takes for it to become interactive. Website owners should ensure that their code is clean, optimized, and free from unnecessary elements.
2. Reduce Third-Party Scripts: Many websites rely on third-party scripts for various functionalities, such as analytics, social media integration, or advertising. However, these scripts can also slow down the page and increase INP. Website owners should review the third-party scripts they are using and consider removing or optimizing them to improve performance.
3. Prioritize Critical Resources: When a user visits a website, the browser needs to download various resources, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images. Prioritizing the loading of critical resources can help improve INP. Website owners can use techniques such as lazy loading or asynchronous loading to ensure that critical resources are loaded first, allowing the page to become interactive more quickly.
4. Use Browser Caching: Browser caching allows the browser to store certain resources locally, so they don’t need to be downloaded again when a user revisits the website. This can significantly improve the loading time and INP. Website owners should enable browser caching for static resources, such as images, CSS, and JavaScript files.
5. Optimize Images: Large images can significantly slow down a page and increase INP. Website owners should optimize their images by compressing them without sacrificing quality. They can also use modern image formats, such as WebP, which offer better compression and faster loading times.
6. Minimize Render-Blocking Resources: Render-blocking resources are elements that prevent the browser from rendering the page until they are loaded. These resources can increase INP by delaying the page’s interactivity. Website owners should identify and minimize render-blocking resources, such as external CSS or JavaScript files, to improve performance.
7. Test and Monitor Performance: It’s important to regularly test and monitor a website’s performance to identify any issues that may affect INP. Website owners can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to analyze their website’s performance and receive recommendations for improvement.
By following these steps, website owners can improve their INP and provide a better user experience. This, in turn, can lead to higher rankings in Google search results and increased organic traffic.
Original article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/improve-interaction-next-paint-debugbear-spa/493088/