Page speed refers to the time it takes for a web page to load and become fully interactive for a user. It is a critical factor for both user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). A slow-loading website can lead to high bounce rates, as users are impatient and may leave a site that takes more than a few seconds to load. A fast, responsive site, on the other hand, provides a smooth experience, encourages engagement, and can significantly increase conversion rates.

From an SEO perspective, Google has officially stated that page speed is a ranking signal. As part of this, they introduced Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics that measure a page’s user experience. These include:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures the time it takes for the largest content element to render. A good LCP is 2.5 seconds or less.
• Interaction to Next Paint (INP): Replaced First Input Delay (FID) and measures a page’s responsiveness to user interactions like clicks or taps. A good INP score is under 200 milliseconds.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures the amount of unexpected layout shifts during the page’s lifespan. A good CLS score is 0.1 or less.

This Page Speed Tester tool provides a simplified way to analyze these key metrics, giving you a quick overview of a website’s performance. By identifying areas for improvement, website owners and SEO professionals can work on optimizing their sites to deliver a better user experience and improve their search engine rankings.