Google replaces FID First Input Delay with INP Interaction to Next Paint
Google recently made a significant change in its Core Web Vitals metrics by replacing First Input Delay with Interaction to Next Paint. But why did they make this change, and why does it matter to businesses? Let's dive in and explore the reasons behind this update.
What is First Input Delay and Interaction to Next Paint?
First Input Delay (FID) measures the time it takes for a user to interact with a web page, such as clicking a button or entering text, and the time the browser responds to that interaction. On the other hand, Interaction to Next Paint (INP) measures the time it takes for a web page to become interactive after the user initiates an action, such as clicking a button or scrolling.
Google Prefers INP Over FID to Measure User Experience
Google decided to replace FID with INP because INP provides a more accurate representation of the user experience on a website. FID only measures the delay in response to the first user interaction, while INP takes into account all interactions that occur before the page becomes fully interactive. This change allows businesses to better understand how users engage with their websites and make improvements to enhance the overall user experience.
Why Aim For Faster INP Scores?
Understanding and optimizing for INP is crucial for businesses as it directly impacts user satisfaction and engagement on their websites. A faster INP means that users can interact with the website more quickly, leading to a better overall experience. This, in turn, can result in higher conversion rates, increased user retention, and improved search engine rankings.
Good Google INP Scores Advantages
By focusing on improving INP, businesses can create a more user-friendly website that encourages visitors to stay longer, explore more pages, and ultimately convert into customers. This shift in focus from FID to INP reflects Google's commitment to prioritizing user experience and providing businesses with the tools they need to succeed in the online marketplace.
What is a Good and Bad Google INP Score?
According to Google, a Good INP score is below 200 ms. Anything between 200 ms and 500 ms Needs Improvement. A INP score greater than 500 ms is rated by Google as Poor.
Where Can I Check my INP Score?
There are a couple options, the most readily available are in your Google search console panel or PageSpeed Insights.
How to Measure Your INP?
You can check your INP score in your Google search console panel under the Web Core Vitals report. Alternatively, you can also check your INP score on demand in the Google's PageSpeed Insights tool. Note you will only see scores if there is enough data by real visitors hitting your site. You can also check your INP scores in Google's APIs.
| Tool | Deprecated field | New field |
|---|---|---|
| CrUX API | experimental_ |
interaction_ |
| CrUX History API | experimental_ |
interaction_ |
| CrUX BigQuery | experimental. |
interaction_ |
| PageSpeed Insights API | experimental_ |
interaction_ |
| Lighthouse report* | experimental-interaction-to-next-paint |
interaction-to-next-paint |
Can I Check my INP Score on the LightHouse Report?
Not on the Chrome version, only in the API.
Conclusion
So, if you're a business looking to enhance your website's performance and user experience, paying attention to Interaction to Next Paint is key. By optimizing for INP, you can ensure that your website is not only fast and responsive but also engaging and user-friendly, ultimately leading to better results for your business.
