Measure the experience users actually receive.
Field data is especially valuable because it reflects real devices, connections and usage patterns rather than only a laboratory test environment.
This guide is written to support real implementation decisions rather than provide a generic checklist.
Key points to understand
LCPLargest Contentful Paint: when the largest visible content element renders.More in the glossary measures how quickly the main visible content becomes available, often influenced by server response, images, fonts and render-blocking assets.
INPInteraction to Next Paint: a responsiveness metric for user interactions.More in the glossary reflects responsiveness across user interactions and can expose expensive JavaScript, long tasks or overloaded event handling.
CLSCumulative Layout Shift: a metric for unexpected visible layout movement.More in the glossary captures unexpected visual movement caused by missing dimensions, late-loading elements or unstable layout behaviour.
Optimise from root causes, not scores.
The same metric can have different causes on different pages, so diagnosis should start from actual page behaviour.
Useful toolsPageSpeed InsightsA Google tool for analysing performance and Core Web Vitals.More in the glossary · Chrome UX Report field data · Lighthouse for lab diagnostics · Browser performance tooling
Common causesOversized hero images · Render-blocking CSS or fonts · Heavy client-side JavaScript · Images and embeds without dimensions