What Interaction to Next Paint (INP) means
INP replaced First Input Delay as a Core Web Vital in 2024. Poor INP means buttons and menus feel laggy, usually because too much JavaScript is running. Trimming third-party scripts and heavy code usually helps most.
Why it matters for your website
INP measures whether your site feels responsive when people click, tap or type. Slow responses make visitors think buttons are broken, and they may tap again or leave. INP is a Core Web Vital, so it is part of how Google looks at page experience.
Example
On a ticket sales site, tapping a seat takes a long moment to highlight because of heavy scripts. Breaking up long JavaScript tasks makes the tap feel instant.
Tips
- Reduce heavy third-party scripts like chat widgets and trackers.
- Break long JavaScript tasks into smaller pieces.
- Show quick visual feedback when someone clicks, even if work continues.
Common mistakes
- Testing only on a fast desktop and missing slow phone responses.
- Adding many tracking tags that all run when users interact.
Questions about Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
What is Interaction to Next Paint (INP)?
How quickly a page visibly responds after someone clicks, taps or types. Good is 200 milliseconds or less.
What replaced First Input Delay?
Interaction to Next Paint replaced First Input Delay as a Core Web Vital. INP looks at responsiveness across a whole visit, not just the first interaction.
How do I check my site's INP?
Search Console's Core Web Vitals report and PageSpeed Insights show INP from real Chrome users when enough data is available.
