Core Web Vitals are Google’s performance metrics for user experience. They include Largest Contentful Paint for loading speed, Interaction to Next Paint for responsiveness, and Cumulative Layout Shift for visual stability.
Google uses these as ranking signals, making them important for SEO. Drupal can score well on Core Web Vitals with proper optimisation, but it requires attention rather than happening automatically.
Focus on fast server response times through caching, small and well optimised assets for quick LCP, and stable layouts that avoid shifting elements as the page loads. Responsive images with explicit width and height attributes help prevent layout shift. JavaScript should be minimal and non blocking. Run your site through PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to see where it stands and what to improve. Most Drupal performance problems come from heavy custom code or bloated themes rather than the platform itself.