What is CLS: Core Web Vitals and Its Relationship with SEO

Do you want to improve your website's performance and enhance the user experience? Then understanding the concept of CLS is a must! In this article, we will explore what CLS is, its impact on web performance, and its relationship with SEO in detail.

Definition and Importance of CLS

CLS stands for "Cumulative Layout Shift" and is defined as the measure of unexpected layout shifts that occur during the loading of a web page. Unexpected shifts can be quite disruptive to the user experience. For example, when a page loads, a button suddenly shifting might cause users to click on the wrong element. Such issues can lead to users quickly leaving the page and even reduce their trust in your site.

CLS is one of the three core web performance metrics known as Core Web Vitals. This metric, which directly affects user experience, is also considered an important ranking factor by Google. Therefore, achieving a low CLS score can improve your SEO performance and enhance the overall quality of your website.

The Role of CLS in Web Performance

Web performance is a critical factor in determining how users interact with a website. CLS plays a significant role in this performance, particularly focusing on page load speed and user interaction. High CLS scores indicate that the content is constantly shifting during page load, making it difficult for users to follow the content.

CLS becomes even more important on mobile devices. On smaller screens, the shifts become more noticeable and can create a bigger issue for users. Therefore, optimizing CLS for mobile-friendly websites should be a top priority.

How is CLS Measured?

CLS is calculated as the sum of the largest layout shifts that occur during the lifetime of a page. The measurement uses the "impact fraction" and "distance fraction" for each layout shift during page load. The impact fraction represents the size of the element that has shifted within the viewport, while the distance fraction shows how far the element has moved.

Google offers a range of tools for measuring CLS. Google Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights allow you to analyze your CLS score and receive improvement suggestions. Additionally, the Chrome UX Report enables you to examine real user data. These tools are useful for tracking and optimizing your CLS values.

Methods to Improve CLS Values

There are several methods to improve your CLS values, enhancing the user experience and boosting your SEO performance:

• Specify Dimensions: For media files such as images and videos, define their dimensions beforehand. This helps the browser allocate space before the page loads, reducing layout shifts.
• Manage Font Loading: Web fonts can cause layout shifts due to loading times. You can minimize this issue by using fallback fonts during font loading.
• Optimize Dynamic Content Layout: Dynamic content may change with user interactions. Ensure that such content has a defined space in the layout by using CSS.
• Properly Manage Ad Placements: Ads often cause unexpected layout shifts. By carefully planning ad placements and creating reserved spaces, you can reduce these effects.

SEO and CLS: The Connection Between Them

SEO helps your website rank higher in search engines. Since CLS directly affects user experience, it holds an important place among Google's ranking factors. A good CLS score allows your page to load faster and encourages users to stay on the page longer, which indirectly improves your SEO performance.

Google has started using Core Web Vitals as a ranking signal. Therefore, improving your CLS score can positively impact not only your user experience but also your visibility in search engines. By optimizing your page's CLS values, you can gain a competitive advantage and serve your target audience better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CLS? CLS stands for "Cumulative Layout Shift" and is the measure of unexpected layout shifts that occur during the loading of a web page.

How is CLS measured? CLS is calculated as the sum of the largest layout shifts that occur during the lifetime of the page, measured using impact and distance fractions.

How can I improve my CLS value? You can improve your CLS by specifying dimensions for images, managing font loading, optimizing dynamic content layout, and properly managing ads.

What is the connection between CLS and SEO? Since CLS directly impacts user experience, it is considered a ranking factor by Google. Therefore, a good CLS score can positively affect your SEO performance.