{"id":85549,"date":"2021-09-01T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T17:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/?p=85549"},"modified":"2023-08-14T02:38:35","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T09:38:35","slug":"core-web-vitals-fid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/blog\/core-web-vitals-fid\/","title":{"rendered":"Core Web Vitals: First Input Delay \u2013 What It Is and How to Improve It for SEO"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cCore web vitals\u201d is a set of core webpage functionalities that impact user experience. Google\u2019s ranking algorithm update called page experience<\/a>, which Google rolled out from June to August 2021, incorporates core web vitals as NEW ranking factors for SEO.<\/p>\n The current set of core web vitals includes:<\/p>\n In this article, part of our series covering the page experience update, I\u2019ll discuss the first input delay or FID:<\/p>\n FID measures the responsiveness of a page to user events. While technically, this could happen throughout the lifespan of a user session on a webpage, in practice, most interactivity problems occur during the initial page load. That is because this is when most resources are being downloaded, parsed, executed, and rendered.<\/p>\n Google discusses FID here<\/a>:<\/p>\n First Input Delay (FID) is an important, user-centric metric for measuring load responsiveness because it quantifies the experience users feel when trying to interact with unresponsive pages\u2014a low FID helps ensure that the page is usable. \u2026<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n FID measures the time from when a user first interacts with a page (i.e., when they click a link, tap on a button, or use a custom, JavaScript-powered control) to the time when the browser is actually able to begin processing event handlers in response to that interaction.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Google cites two important reasons why the first input delay is important<\/a>:<\/p>\n Keep in mind that FID will not apply to every situation, as Google points out here<\/a>:<\/p>\n Not all users will interact with your site every time they visit. And not all interactions are relevant to FID \u2026 How you track, report on, and analyze FID will probably be quite a bit different from other metrics you may be used to.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n FID measures the first impression of your site’s interactivity and responsiveness. It analyzes things like clicks, taps and key presses, which fall under the \u201cresponsiveness\u201d category. It does not measure<\/a> things like scrolling and zooming, which are related to animation.<\/p>\n Google recommends webpages aim for an FID of 100 milliseconds or less*, which means the page would be able to respond to an interactive event within that time frame. In order to be considered \u201cgood,\u201d Google\u2019s threshold should be met 75 percent of the time, segmented across mobile and desktop devices. You can learn more about how Google creates thresholds here<\/a>. While the official threshold is 75% of page loads, Google says<\/a> that for FID in particular, they \u201cstrongly recommend looking at the 95th to 99th percentiles, as those will correspond to the particularly bad first experiences users are having with your site. And it will show you the areas that need the most improvement.\u201d This is true for both desktop and mobile users.<\/p>\n For developers, it\u2019s important to understand that Google only measures the delay in event processing<\/a>, not the \u201cevent processing time itself nor the time it takes the browser to update the UI after running event handlers.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, Google only measures how long the browser takes to start executing the event process. So, if you click on a link, it’s the delay between the time you click and the time the browser starts processing that click.<\/p>\n And when you\u2019re ready to start improving FID, you\u2019ll use tools that can help measure real data in the wild.<\/p>\n Improving FID is another way to speed up your webpages for visitors. Consider that fast page loading was already a best practice for SEO and a ranking factor long before we heard of core web vitals. FID helps keep visitors on your site because they can interact with the content faster.<\/p>\n When people bounce from your site, they may never come back, and you can lose potential revenue. Not only that, but a sluggish site can also impact your rankings. That\u2019s because Google\u2019s AI, RankBrain<\/a>, may take into account how a user engages with the search results.<\/p>\n Over time, if a website has enough visitors who go to the page from the search results and bounce back quickly, this could indicate they didn\u2019t find what they were looking for. Because RankBrain\u2019s goal is to analyze and serve the most relevant search results, rankings could suffer.<\/p>\n The good news is that most sites may already be OK when it comes to FID.<\/strong> In a study by Screaming Frog<\/a>, 89% of mobile and 99% of desktop URLs fell within the threshold. The average was around 56 milliseconds on mobile and 13 milliseconds on desktop.<\/p>\n When looking at FID and search rankings correlation, Screaming Frog says that there\u2019s much less of a correlation than for other core web vitals. But you need to recall that 2021 is when this becomes an important factor, and we would not expect an impact yet.<\/p>\n Google provides tools<\/a> to measure FID, including:<\/p>\n You can also measure FID with the web-vitals JavaScript library and learn more about that here<\/a>. If you are serious about improving CWV, this is the best way to get real-time feedback from actual user sessions to determine how to fix FID in the field.<\/p>\n The primary cause of a bad FID score is heavy JavaScript execution.<\/strong> So be sure to optimize how \u201cJavaScript parses, compiles, and executes on your web page will directly reduce FID,\u201d says Google. Reducing the amount of JavaScript and\/or optimizing the running of JavaScript has always been a good idea for SEO.<\/p>\n If a user clicks while a JavaScript file is being processed, the browser can\u2019t react, and the user feels blocked. If your FID score is in the red, you may need to split up your JavaScript files so the browser can go back and forth between JavaScript processing and reacting to the user.<\/p>\n Optimizing your JavaScript reduces page bloat, improves page performance, and provides Google with an easier path to index the correct content. That\u2019s because Google will not have to process as much JavaScript to figure out what it needs.<\/p>\n In our experience, the more you can give Googlebot what it needs right away without having to process too many things, the better Google will index your site the way you think it should be indexed. Indexing is hugely important for SEO as it influences what pages Google determines are valid or not.<\/p>\n To optimize the FID score, Google recommends running a Lighthouse performance audit and looking at the opportunities<\/a> uncovered but gives more detail on how to optimize JavaScript here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Find out more about the update by reading our page experience series:<\/em><\/p>\n Watch our on-demand webinar 3 Expert Tips to Improve Core Web Vitals<\/a> to get more in-depth help on this timely SEO topic.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n First Input Delay (FID) is a pivotal metric that defines how responsive and interactive a webpage is upon user engagement. FID measures the time interval between a user’s initial interaction\u2014such as clicking a link or tapping a button\u2014and the browser’s ability to respond. It is, essentially, the first impression users have of a webpage’s responsiveness.<\/p>\n A seamless and prompt response to user input is integral to retaining visitors’ interest and ensuring their satisfaction. Users perceive a website as highly responsive when FID is minimized, leading to a positive user experience. Research indicates that user patience is limited, and even a slight delay in response can result in frustration, leading to higher bounce rates and decreased engagement.<\/p>\n FID’s significance extends beyond user satisfaction. Search engines, particularly Google, recognize the importance of user experience in determining search rankings. As part of its ranking algorithm, Google considers FID as a user-centric metric to gauge a website’s responsiveness. Websites that provide a smoother user experience by minimizing FID are more likely to rank higher in search results, gaining increased visibility and organic traffic.<\/p>\n To optimize FID, meticulous attention to website performance is crucial. Heavy JavaScript execution often contributes to delayed responses. By optimizing JavaScript code, reducing its size, and improving its execution efficiency, websites can significantly enhance FID scores. Identifying and addressing resource-intensive processes that impact FID is essential, as even seemingly insignificant elements can accumulate and cause delays.<\/p>\n Moreover, focusing on FID optimization aligns with the broader goal of improving website performance. A well-optimized website delivers a superior user experience and positively impacts SEO efforts. Websites that load swiftly and respond promptly to user input create a positive feedback loop, enhancing engagement, lowering bounce rates, and improving search rankings.<\/p>\n The significance of First Input Delay in user experience cannot be overstated. A quick and seamless response to user input is fundamental in retaining users, improving engagement, and enhancing overall website performance. Prioritizing FID optimization not only elevates user satisfaction but also contributes to improved search rankings and organic traffic.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure: The Significance of First Input Delay in User Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cCore web vitals\u201d is a set of core webpage functionalities that impact user experience. Google\u2019s ranking algorithm update called page experience, which Google rolled out from June to August 2021, incorporates core web vitals as NEW ranking factors for SEO. The current set of core web vitals includes: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) First Input Delay […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":85553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1663,1232,1579,1477,1114,1662],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>What Is First Input Delay (FID)?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>How Is First Input Delay (FID) Measured?<\/h2>\n
\n*Updated threshold per Google as of 2\/18\/2021<\/em><\/p>\n
\nGoogle\u2019s FID score<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>How Does First Input Delay (FID) Impact SEO?<\/h2>\n
\n\u201cHow Many Sites Pass the Core Web Vitals Assessment?,\u201d Screamingfrog.co.uk<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>How Do I Improve My First Input Delay (FID) Score?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>FAQ: What is the significance of First Input Delay in user experience?<\/h3>\n
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