Core Web Vitals: The Key to a More Accessible and Inclusive Web

The Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics defined by Google to concretely evaluate the quality of a website's user experience. They measure aspects such as loading speed, responsiveness, and the stability of elements on the screen. The goal is not just to analyze how technically fast a site is but to understand whether users can actually interact with the content without delays or unexpected shifts that cause inconvenience. This approach is designed to prioritize the user experience, considering real-life factors such as slow connections, less powerful devices, or customized browser settings.

The three main metrics are:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): measures the time required to render the main visible element in the viewport, such as a large image or a significant block of text.
• First Input Delay (FID): assesses a page’s responsiveness, meaning the delay between the first user action (e.g., a click) and the browser’s response.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): evaluates unexpected shifts in elements, which can make navigation frustrating—imagine clicking a button that suddenly moves elsewhere on the screen.

Google has set precise thresholds for these parameters, recommending:✔ LCP under 2.5 seconds✔ FID under 100 milliseconds✔ CLS as close to zero as possible

The Impact of Core Web Vitals on Digital Accessibility

Optimizing Core Web Vitals has a direct impact on digital accessibility. If a page loads its primary element too slowly, users relying on assistive technologies or those with limited connections may face a blank or incomplete page for a long time. A significant delay in responsiveness can disorient people using alternative keyboards, voice recognition software, or other assistive tools essential for browsing.

Similarly, an unstable layout makes it difficult to maintain visual focus or select the desired element. This is especially problematic for users with visual impairments who use screen magnifiers or screen readers. Minimizing these issues means creating a more inclusive environment, where every user—regardless of their abilities or device—can access content smoothly and without frustration.

Why Google Rewards Websites with Good Core Web Vitals

Google rewards websites that perform well on Core Web Vitals, influencing their search ranking. This pushes developers and site managers to adopt technical improvements that enhance loading speed, responsiveness, and layout stability.

Tools like Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, and Google Search Console provide numerical data and practical recommendations for identifying weaknesses and areas for improvement. These may include large images, unoptimized code, or scripts that slow responsiveness.

By implementing these improvements, websites can not only enhance their ranking but also offer users a more efficient and accessible experience.

A More Inclusive Web: Core Web Vitals & WCAG Best Practices

Google's metrics, combined with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) best practices, set a clear path toward designing a fairer web, where no one is excluded due to digital barriers.

For those unfamiliar with the topic, it’s crucial to understand that Core Web Vitals are not just a checklist of performance metrics. Instead, they represent a paradigm shift: optimizing a site means prioritizing the real needs of users.

A fast-loading element, an instant response to a click or touch, and a stable layout create a significantly better experience for all users. This makes Core Web Vitals a natural evolution of an approach where service quality and inclusion go hand in hand, ensuring that no one is left behind due to technical or design limitations.

Core Web Vitals: A Win-Win for Businesses and Users

Ensuring that LCP, FID, and CLS values meet Google’s recommended thresholds offers wide-ranging benefits.

• For website owners, it improves SEO ranking, increasing visibility and traffic.
• For users, it creates a better experience, removing unnecessary obstacles.

The most important outcome is the reduction of digital barriers:✅ Loading the main page element quickly✅ Ensuring immediate responsiveness to commands✅ Keeping text and images stable

These steps go beyond simple performance improvements—they represent real progress toward a digital space that is truly inclusive and barrier-free, where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access content effortlessly.