P0Issue #73
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) resource type
❓ What does it mean?
❓ What is LCP?
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is a Core Web Vitals metric that measures the time it takes for the largest visible content element (image, video, or text block) to render on the user’s screen.
It tells when the main content is visible and usable.
Good LCP: ≤ 2.5 seconds
Needs Improvement: 2.5 – 4 seconds
Poor LCP: > 4 seconds
🚨 Why is it important for SEO?
⚡ LCP Resource Types
The “LCP resource type” refers to the element responsible for LCP on a page:
Images (e.g., <img>, <image> in SVG)
Background images loaded with CSS (background-image)
Video poster images
Text blocks (e.g., <h1>, <p> with web fonts)
✅ How to Fix It
❌ Example of Poor LCP (Image as LCP resource)
A homepage hero section uses a large banner image (2 MB).
The image is not compressed or lazy-loaded properly.
LCP takes 4.2 seconds to render.
Result: Users perceive the site as slow, leading to higher bounce rates and lower SEO performance.
❌ Bad Example
✅ Example of Good LCP (Optimized Text as LCP resource)
A blog page where the H1 title is the LCP resource.
Fonts are preloaded, and text renders within 1.5 seconds.
Users can immediately see the main content.
Result: Fast LCP, better SEO rankings, and improved engagement.
✅ Good Example
🛠 How to Optimize LCP Resource Types
For Images:
Use next-gen formats (WebP, AVIF).
Compress & resize images to match display size.
Preload critical images (like hero banners).
For Text:
Use font-display: swap to avoid invisible text.
Preload important web fonts.
For Background Images:
Avoid loading huge background images for above-the-fold sections.
Use responsive image sets (srcset).
For Videos:
Use optimized poster images.
Don’t auto-load heavy video files above the fold.
⚡ Result
📈 SEO & UX Impact
Faster perceived load speed → better Core Web Vitals.
Higher Google rankings (LCP is a direct ranking signal).
Reduced bounce rate → users stay engaged.
Improved conversions → faster visible content increases trust.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)?
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is a Core Web Vitals metric that measures the time it takes for the largest visible content element on a webpage to render on the user's screen.
Why is LCP important for SEO?
LCP is important for SEO because it affects user experience, influences bounce rates, and is a direct ranking factor in Google's algorithm.
How can I optimize LCP resource types on my website?
You can optimize LCP resource types by using next-gen image formats, compressing and resizing images, preloading critical resources, using font-display: swap for text, and optimizing background images and video posters.
What are the benefits of optimizing LCP?
Optimizing LCP leads to faster perceived load speeds, higher search rankings, reduced bounce rates, and improved conversions due to better user trust.