Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Categories: C, SEO Glossary

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is a critical metric that quantifies the stability of a webpage’s visual layout. It captures and scores the extent to which elements on the page move around unexpectedly as the page fully loads and during the visitor’s interaction with the page. A high CLS score indicates a significant amount of shift, which can be frustrating for users. For instance, if someone is reading an article and suddenly the text shifts down due to a late-loading advertisement, this results in a poor user experience. As a core component of the Core Web Vitals, optimizing CLS is essential for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable online experience for website visitors.