How do I improve LCP

LCP, or Largest Contentful Paint, is one of the most critical metrics of modern web development. It's the best metric to show how fast a website loads. More about LCP here.

To improve LCP, you need to focus on optimizing each phase mentioned above. Here's how:

1. Optimize Server Response Times
2. Efficient Image and Video Handling
3. Use Preloading for Critical Resources
4. Minimize Render-Blocking Resources
5. Prioritize Font Loading

Optimize Server Response Times

Reduce the TTFB by optimizing your server, database queries, and application logic. Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute content closer to users geographically.

Efficient Image and Video Handling

Use modern image formats like WebP or AVIF which offer excellent compression rates without sacrificing quality. Ensure images are not lazy-loaded if they're above the fold. Use loading="eager" for critical images, and make sure that these images are not being fetched too late due to third-party scripts or stylesheets. Compress and resize images based on the user's device and viewport size. You can use the srcset attribute for responsive images.

Use Preloading for Critical Resources

Ensure that key resources like fonts, CSS, and images are preloaded. Usefor critical above-the-fold content to ensure the browser prioritizes them early in the page load process. Mark large images with fetchpriority="high" so they are fetched earlier in the rendering process.

Minimize Render-Blocking Resources

Avoid including render-blocking resources, such as large CSS files or JavaScript that blocks the main thread, in the critical rendering path. Consider inlining small CSS and JavaScript used for rendering the above-the-fold content.

Prioritize Font Loading

Fonts can significantly delay LCP if not handled properly. Use font-display strategies like font-display: swap to prevent invisible text during load, and preload key fonts.