{"id":121263,"date":"2021-09-08T21:41:02","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T02:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?post_type=resource&p=121263"},"modified":"2025-07-02T12:24:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T17:24:03","slug":"core-web-vitals-tools-for-measuring-performance","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/core-web-vitals-tools-for-measuring-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Core Web Vitals: Tools for Measuring Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: in March 2024 First Input Delay (FID) will be officially replaced with a new and pending Core Web Vitals metric, Interaction to Next Paint (INP). Read more about how this change in Google\u2019s page experience metrics will impact the Core Web Vitals that are essential to website performance in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the arrival of Google\u2019s page experience update<\/a>, the role of Core Web Vitals<\/a> has been elevated, creating a key factor in page ranking systems for the world’s most widely-used search engine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are Core Web Vitals<\/a>? In short, Core Web Vitals are user-centric metrics<\/a> that measure specific aspects of the end-user experience, and they now sit alongside existing search signals like mobile-friendliness<\/a>, HTTPS security<\/a>, and intrusive interstitial guidelines<\/a> to decide how sites will appear in Google\u2019s search results.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ebook, which was co-authored with Google<\/a> and 10up<\/a>, a WP Engine Agency Partner<\/a>, offers a closer look at Core Web Vitals, what they mean for website performance, and why building a seamless page experience matters more than ever. Check out the ebook for steps you can take to measure and improve your site performance with Core Web Vitals at the forefront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the full report now, or keep reading for a preview!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tooling for Measuring Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Good page experience should not be measured at a single point in time. It should be composed using a series of key milestones in your users\u2019 journey. Understanding the different metrics and how to track them is key to effectively monitoring and evaluating page experience and impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no \u2018one size fits all\u2019 when considering the tools that you should be using. Performance optimization is an iterative process and there are a number of factors to be considered when looking at the performance of a site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to understand how performance metrics are most commonly measured, usually in one of two ways: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Lab Data <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Field Data <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither of these measures is considered to be better or worse than the other\u2014instead, you should use both in tandem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lab vs Field Data:
Understanding the Difference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lab data<\/strong> is performance data collected within a controlled environment using predefined device and network settings. This offers reproducible results and debugging capabilities that can help identify, isolate, and fix performance issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n