Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Time until the largest visible element in the viewport has rendered.
SEO
Definition
LCP marks the render time of the largest image, video poster or text block visible within the initial viewport.
It is measured in the field at the 75th percentile of page loads.
Why it matters
LCP is the closest single proxy for perceived load speed, and it is the vital most commonly failed by marketing sites carrying large hero imagery.
How to apply it
- Preload the hero image and serve it in a modern format at the rendered size.
- Avoid lazy-loading the LCP element.
- Keep the server response under 600ms.