P0Issue #70
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
❓ What does it mean?
❓ What does it mean?
Interaction to Next Paint (INP) is a Core Web Vital metric introduced by Google.
It measures how quickly a webpage responds to user interactions (like clicks, taps, or key presses) and shows the next visible update (paint) on the screen.
Good INP: Below 200 ms (fast, smooth response).
Needs improvement: Between 200–500 ms.
Poor INP: Above 500 ms (laggy, frustrating).
🚨 Why is it important for SEO?
🚨 Why is this a problem for SEO?
User experience → If a page takes too long to react to clicks or taps, users feel it’s “slow” or “broken.”
Bounce rate increase → Delays frustrate visitors, leading to drop-offs.
Ranking factor → Since Core Web Vitals are part of Google’s ranking signals, poor INP can hurt visibility.
Conversion loss → A slow “Add to Cart” button, for example, directly impacts sales.
✅ How to Fix It
✅ Best Practices to Fix INP
Minimize JavaScript execution time → Break up long tasks into smaller chunks.
Use async/defer for non-critical scripts.
Avoid heavy re-renders in frameworks like React/Next.js.
Preload key resources (fonts, scripts, above-the-fold assets).
Use requestIdleCallback or setTimeout for non-urgent work.
Optimize event handlers (debounce/throttle expensive functions).
❌ Bad Example
📌 Example
❌ Bad (High INP – Slow Interaction):
<button onclick="heavyFunction()">Add to Cart</button>
<script>
function heavyFunction() {
// Long blocking task
for (let i = 0; i < 1000000000; i++) {}
document.body.style.background = "yellow";
}
</script>
When the button is clicked, the UI freezes before painting the update.
INP could be 800ms+.
✅ Good Example
✅ Good (Low INP – Optimized):
<button onclick="optimizedFunction()">Add to Cart</button>
<script>
function optimizedFunction() {
// Yield control to browser, update paint faster
setTimeout(() => {
document.body.style.background = "yellow";
}, 0);
}
</script>
Interaction response is immediate.
INP likely under 200ms.
⚡ Result
⚡ SEO & UX Impact of Fixing
Better Core Web Vitals score → Higher Google ranking.
Improved user trust (site feels fast and responsive).
Reduced bounce rate and better conversion rates.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
Interaction to Next Paint (INP) is a Core Web Vital metric that measures how quickly a webpage responds to user interactions and shows the next visible update on the screen.
Why is INP important for SEO?
INP is important for SEO because it affects user experience, influences bounce rates, is a ranking factor in Google's algorithm, and can impact conversion rates on websites.
How can I improve INP on my website?
You can improve INP by minimizing JavaScript execution time, using async/defer for non-critical scripts, avoiding heavy re-renders, preloading key resources, optimizing event handlers, and breaking up long tasks.
What are the benefits of optimizing INP?
Optimizing INP leads to better Core Web Vitals scores, improved user trust, reduced bounce rates, and higher conversion rates, all of which contribute to better SEO performance.