SEO is a field that is constantly evolving. Positioning requires adapting to new standards introduced by Google. A new, yet crucial, metric has emerged in the realm of website optimization, drawing the attention of SEO experts and developers. This metric is INP, or Interaction to Next Paint. This parameter is part of the relatively new Core Web Vitals metric. The titular character will replace the First Input Delay (FID) metric. Learn what INP means in Google and in a broader context.
What is INP?
This metric measures a website's responsiveness in response to user interaction. It measures all actions performed throughout the entire session. To understand what INP is, learn the key aspects of this metric:
- Comprehensive interaction measurement
- click monitoring,
- tracking activity on mobile devices,
- analyzing page scrolling behavior,
- measurement of keyboard interaction.
- Responsiveness rating
- measuring the time from user interaction to the display of the next segment,
- taking into account delays in interface rendering,
- analyzing the smooth operation of the website.
What is INP in relation to FID?
Interaction to Next Paint was developed as a result of the growing demands for website optimization . It allows for monitoring and refining aspects that First Input Delay couldn't address. What exactly is the advantage of INP over FID?
- First Input Delay (FID)
This metric was introduced as one of the first indicators to measure website interactivity. It focuses solely on a user's initial interaction with a page. It thus measures the time between the moment a user clicks or touches an element and the browser's response. FID was sufficient when websites had simpler structures, and the initial interaction was sufficient for assessing user experience. However, website optimization was becoming increasingly complex. In the process, FID began to reveal its limitations.
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- Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
This metric expands on the capabilities of the FID. It represents a new and much more comprehensive approach to measuring website interactivity . This metric tracks all user interactions with the website, thus analyzing the entire session. Not only clicks are taken into account, but also scrolling and text entry. All these factors provide a more comprehensive picture of a website's responsiveness. This holistic approach became essential as complex interface structures became standard, and websites began to abound with complex forms and dynamically loaded content.
What is INP in SEO and UX?
Google has decided that INP will become one of the key parameters in determining a website's health . By taking care of this aspect, you increase your chances of increasing your online visibility. However, there are more potential benefits, and they play a huge role in the success of your business. See what you can gain by improving this aspect:
- better user experience,
- more conversions,
- higher positions in search results,
- lower bounce rate.
You don't need expensive software to measure it. Google provides all the necessary tools. The basic solution is Page Speed Insights, which provides a metric showing your INP score. Furthermore, you can also view tips to improve optimization in this area. You can also use Google Search Console and Lighthouse, a Google Chrome plugin.
What is INP in a good sense?
A favorable INP score should not exceed 200 milliseconds. This is the level at which users experience an immediate response to their actions, and Google classifies a site as well-optimized in this regard.
The average INP score is between 200 and 500 milliseconds. This isn't a cause for alarm, but it certainly leaves plenty of room for improvement.
A poor INP score is any value exceeding 500 milliseconds. Users interacting with such a page may experience significant delays in their responses. If the analysis reveals a result of this level, immediate improvements should be made. Neglecting this aspect can discourage users from using your website and cause a drop in search engine rankings.
How to improve your INP?
Now that you know what INP stands for in Google, all that's left to do is improve your optimization in this area. To do so, follow these tips:
- JavaScript code optimization
Excessive JavaScript resources and their complex structure can disrupt page rendering. Therefore, careful selection is essential. Remove unnecessary elements and simplify fragments where possible.
- Customizing multimedia content
It's also worth paying attention to managing assets like images and videos. Files that take up too much space can hinder your website's interactivity. Therefore, try to compress such content.
- Limiting the number of extensions
Avoid excessive use of external scripts and plugins, which can delay the site's response to user interactions. It's also worth reducing the number of HTTP requests. You can achieve this by combining resources into larger packages. This will reduce server load and improve site performance.
- Prioritizing content loading
Try to prioritize the loading order of individual content elements. Modules that play a key role in the site's performance should load first. Less important content can be left lower in the priority hierarchy.
Summary
The above article covers the following topics:
- It was explained that INP (Interaction to Next Paint) measures the responsiveness of a page to user interactions – clicks, scrolling, typing – throughout the entire session.
- INP was compared with FID – FID measured only the first interaction, INP monitors all user actions, giving a more complete picture of responsiveness.
- The impact of INP on SEO and UX is discussed: better user experience, more conversions, higher Google rankings and lower bounce rates.
- Performance thresholds are indicated: good INP is below 200 ms, average 200–500 ms, poor above 500 ms.
- Methods for improving INP are presented: JavaScript optimization, multimedia compression, plugin restriction, and content loading prioritization.
