Category : Core Web Vitals Metrics and How to Improve Them | Sub Category : Improving Cumulative Layout Shift CLS for User Experience Posted on 2025-02-02 21:24:53
Core Web Vitals Metrics and How to Improve Them - Improving Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) for Better User Experience
Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that Google uses to evaluate the user experience provided by websites. These metrics include three main indicators: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). Among these, Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures how much the content on a webpage shifts as it loads.
CLS can be frustrating for users because it can cause buttons or links to move as they try to interact with a page, leading to accidental clicks or misinterpretation of information. Therefore, it is important for website owners to understand CLS and take steps to improve it for a better user experience.
Here are some strategies to improve Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) on your website:
1. Avoid Dynamic Content: One common cause of CLS is the insertion of dynamic content above existing content, causing the layout to shift unexpectedly. To prevent this, reserve space for any content that may load later by using placeholders or fixed aspect ratios.
2. Optimize Images and Videos: Large images or videos without specified dimensions can cause layout shifts when they load. Ensure that all media elements have defined width and height attributes to prevent sudden layout changes.
3. Prioritize Critical CSS: Utilize critical CSS to style above-the-fold content, ensuring that essential elements are rendered quickly and reducing the chance of layout shifts as the page loads.
4. Lazy Load Non-Essential Content: Implement lazy loading for images, videos, and other non-essential content to defer their loading until they come into view, minimizing disruptions to the page layout.
5. Test and Monitor CLS: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to analyze your website's CLS performance and identify areas for improvement. Regularly monitor CLS scores to track progress and ensure a smooth user experience.
By addressing Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) and improving this Core Web Vital metric, you can create a more stable and user-friendly browsing experience for visitors to your website. Prioritize user experience by optimizing your site for CLS and other Core Web Vitals to enhance performance and drive engagement.