GLOSSARY TERM
What is CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)?
Definition
A Core Web Vitals metric that measures visual stability by tracking how much page content unexpectedly shifts during loading. Google recommends keeping CLS under 0.1.
Why it Matters for AI Search
Layout shifts frustrate users — causing mis-clicks, lost reading positions, and accidental purchases. Common causes include images without dimensions, dynamically injected ads, and web fonts loading late. A poor CLS score directly hurts your Google rankings.
Related Terms
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)Core Web VitalsTTFB (Time to First Byte)CrUX (Chrome User Experience Report)GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
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