Google Lighthouse 13 Launches With Perception-Based mostly Audits

Google has launched Lighthouse 13 with a broad audit consolidation that aligns Lighthouse stories with Chrome DevTools’ newer perception mannequin.

The replace is offered now by way of npm and Chrome Canary. It would roll into PageSpeed Insights inside a few week and is slated for Chrome’s secure channel with model 143.

Google says the replace doesn’t change how Lighthouse calculates efficiency scores. This replace targets non-scored audits solely.

Lighthouse 13 Particulars

Audit Consolidation

Lighthouse 13 replaces many legacy audits with “insights” that mirror DevTools.

Notable examples embrace:

• CLS And Structure: layout-shifts turns into cls-culprits-insight for clearer identification of format shift causes.
• Server And Community: document-latency-insight consolidates redirects, server response time, and textual content compression checks.
• Pictures: image-delivery-insight replaces trendy codecs, optimized photographs, responsive photographs, and environment friendly animated content material audits.
• LCP: Two insights break down Largest Contentful Paint points: lcp-discovery-insight and lcp-phases-insight. For interplay work, see interaction-to-next-paint-insight (INP).
• Third-Get together: third-parties-insight replaces the older third-party abstract to indicate exterior script influence.

Extra replacements tackle DOM measurement, duplicated JavaScript, font show, legacy JavaScript, HTTP/2 and trendy HTTPS, community dependency bushes, render-blocking, caching, and viewport configuration.

Audits Eliminated With out Replacements

A number of audits had been eliminated as a result of they’re outdated, inactionable, or low worth in trendy environments. Moreover, some audits had been eliminated as a result of they had been expensive to run.

Eliminated audits embrace:

• first-meaningful-paint
• font-size
• offscreen-images
• preload-fonts
• uses-rel-preload
• no-document-write
• uses-passive-event-listeners
• third-party-facades

Minor Variations From Earlier Previews

Google stored non-composited-animations and unsized-images as separate diagnostics to assist find points that don’t straight trigger CLS.

Google additionally eliminated font-size and preload-fonts although these weren’t within the preliminary elimination checklist.

Why This Issues

When you depend on Lighthouse for shopper reporting, you will note fewer line gadgets and extra consolidated insights that map to DevTools.

Your scores shouldn’t change simply by upgrading, however any automation that keys off audit IDs might want to observe the brand new perception identifiers.

For search engine optimization context, the elimination of the font-size audit displays Google’s place that this isn’t a present search engine optimization sign, although legibility stays a UX consideration.

Trying Forward

Count on Lighthouse and DevTools to remain aligned on the identical perception mannequin.

For reporting, contemplate mapping outdated audit IDs to the brand new insights now to keep away from damaged dashboards when PSI updates.

Featured Picture: FotoField/Shutterstock