Have you ever visited a website and found yourself frustrated by how long it took for the content to load? Or, even worse, been in the middle of reading an article when all of a sudden part of the page shifted, causing you to lose your place? That's what we call Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). In this blog post, we'll discuss what CLS is, why it matters, and how you can help reduce it on your own site. So whether you're a web developer or simply someone who wants to learn more about web performance, read on!

Have you ever clicked on something online and it shifted around, making your intended target move away? That can be a major annoyance, right? Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is Google's way of tracking and analyzing just how much that happens on any given webpage.

Also known as 'layout instability,' Google uses CLS to measure the sum total of all individual layout shift scores for every unexpected change in the page content that occurs between when the page first loads and when the user interacts with it. Google uses this metric to help inform its ranking algorithm, which means that websites with lower CLS scores can get a boost in overall organic search traffic.

On top of this, Google even rewards websites for having a higher CLS score by awarding them with a point on the Page Experience Report. It's an important thing to work towards if your business wants to maintain or improve its visibility on Google. So if you want to stay ahead of the curve, keeping tabs on your website's CLS score will definitely pay off!

It's no surprise that web user experience is a major priority for web developers these days. After all, web users should be able to easily access the content they're looking for and have a positive experience when navigating websites or apps.

That's where CLS (Content Layout Shift) comes in. CLS is used to measure how well web pages are laid out with the goal of creating smooth transitions between elements during web interactions. By optimizing the layout of webpages, web developers can create a more reliable UX by reducing unexpected layout shifts that can cause frustration and confusion - ultimately leading to higher return rates on webpages.

In addition, CLS helps web developers improve website or app performance and loading times by providing feedback on page layouts so they can optimize their webpage design for speed and efficiency.

Ultimately, CLS will give web users a better experience when using websites or apps - making it an invaluable tool in any web developer's arsenal.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is a performance issue that can affect how smoothly visitors experience a website or app. Common causes of CLS include delays in image loading, animations or other dynamic content, google fonts and scripts, and unoptimized text size. When images take too long to load on a page, visitors can be caught off guard as elements shift beneath their cursor.

Animations also cause shifting because they are set to begin at different times for different users. Google fonts and scripts can also result in CLS since these resources often take longer than needed to render due to various server issues.

In addition, font sizes that are not optimized for responsive web designs will create unwanted shifts when users view them from devices with different screen resolutions. Being aware of these common pitfalls and finding ways to prevent them can be critical in avoiding CLS issues and creating the best experience for all website users.

Measuring Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is an important part of designing a website or app that functions well and looks good. CLS measures how much visual movement occurs on the page when elements are loaded, rendering changes or other unexpected events cause reflow.

Fortunately, it isn’t too tricky to measure your own site or app’s CLS and take action accordingly. First, you should use an analytics tool like Google PageSpeed Insights to get reliable data about your site’s performance.

This will allow you to quickly and easily identify any potential problems with large shifts in layout due to slow-loading content or when images resize unexpectedly. Then, you can use a web developer's tools such as Chrome DevTools to review the CLS score for each element on the page.

Lastly, review your overall CLS score for each viewport size – this can help determine if the website design needs adjustments for optimal performance on different devices and browsers. With these steps in place before launch, you can be sure that your website or app is up to scratch when it comes to delivering an amazing user experience!  ​

Keeping your website’s layout consistent, clear, and easy to navigate is essential for delivering a great user experience. Unfortunately, 'Cumulative Layout Shift’ (CLS) can often cause frustration for visitors as content shifts unexpectedly on web pages.

CLS is caused by elements such as images, ads or fonts that do not have their size specified in the HTML, so the browser must reserve space for them until it can determine their size.

Luckily, there are several steps you can take to help minimize CLS and create a smoother browsing experience for your visitors. First, make sure all elements on the page are sized correctly, including images and videos.

Additionally, you should upload all of your assets as soon as possible to reduce unwanted delays related to downloading items from external sources. Finally, setting fixed viewport-width values and using proper font loading techniques can help ensure page stability and cohesion when loading webpages. Following these tips will make it easier for visitors to find what they need quickly and efficiently on your website or app - creating a better overall experience in the process!

If you want to learn more about CLS and how it might be impacting your website or app, contact Rival Ecommerce. We can review your site and make recommendations on ways to reduce CLS and improve the overall user experience for all visitors.