The three Core Web Vitals are LCP, INP, and CLS—Google's chosen metrics for measuring real-world user experience on your pages. LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) tracks how long it takes for the largest visible content element to render, with Google wanting under 2.5 seconds. This is usually your hero image, heading block, or main content frame. INP (Interaction to Next Paint) replaced FID in March 2024 and measures the delay between user interactions like clicks or taps and the browser's visual response, targeting under 200 milliseconds. CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) quantifies unexpected layout shifts—when buttons move as you try to click them or text jumps because an ad loaded late—and should stay below 0.1. These aren't theoretical benchmarks. Google confirmed in 2021 that Core Web Vitals are ranking factors, though the weight varies by query and competition level. In practice, sites with good vitals don't automatically outrank stronger domains, but poor vitals can cost you positions when you're competing against comparable content. The metrics use field data from real Chrome users through the Chrome User Experience Report, so they reflect actual visitor experiences on real devices and connections, not just lab tests. At Ottawa SEO, we see the biggest CWV issues come from oversized images, render-blocking JavaScript, and third-party scripts like chat widgets or ad networks. A typical WordPress site we audit might have a 4-second LCP on mobile because the hero image is 2MB instead of 150KB, or a 0.3 CLS because the navigation bar loads after the content and shoves everything down. Fixing LCP usually means compressing images and preloading critical resources. INP requires cleaning up heavy JavaScript and debouncing event handlers. CLS needs explicit dimensions on images and ads, plus careful font loading. You can check your scores in Google Search Console under the Experience report or run a live test through PageSpeed Insights. Focus on mobile performance first—most traffic and most Google assessments happen there. Good vitals won't save weak content, but they remove a meaningful technical handicap when your content is competitive.