Google Adds Data Collection Period to PageSpeed Insights (PSI)
Google has updated PageSpeed Insights (PSI) to display the data collection period for Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) metrics. This update addresses a long-standing frustration among developers who rely on this tool for website performance insights. Barry Pollard, Web Performance Developer Advocate at Google Chrome, announced the change in a post on X.
What Changed in PSI?
With the update, PSI directly displays the exact date range for CrUX metrics in its interface.
CrUX data in PSI is based on the 75th percentile of real user visits over a rolling 28-day period, with a two-day delay.
For instance, a test run on January 5 would show data collected from December 7 to January 3.
Previously, developers had to dig into Chrome DevTools to find this information. Now, it’s available directly in PSI, making it easier to interpret and track performance metrics.
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Why It Matters
CrUX data is essential for measuring real-world user experiences and is even used as a ranking factor in Google search results.
The update benefits developers by:
- Providing clarity on the time frame for performance metrics.
- Helping them track changes and improvements after website optimizations.
- Simplifying performance analysis by making key information readily accessible.
CrUX Data Across Google Tools
The update in PageSpeed Insights is part of Google’s efforts to enhance the usability of CrUX data. However, CrUX data is available across multiple Google tools, each with a slightly different approach:
- PageSpeed Insights (PSI): Reports URL-specific or site-level data for a rolling 28-day period, with a two-day delay.
- Google Search Console: Groups pages into page groups rather than reporting on individual URLs, which can sometimes cause confusion.
- BigQuery: Provides monthly CrUX data dumps, offering extra details like histograms and geographic breakdowns. The data is updated 10 days after the end of each month.
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Looking Ahead
This small but impactful change to PageSpeed Insights makes CrUX data more transparent to interpret.
By providing a clearer picture of performance metrics, developers can better optimize their websites for user experience and search rankings.
Sarosh Khan has been part of CyberX Studio since 2024 as a Content Writer and Strategist. With a degree in Media & Communication Studies, Sarosh is passionate about creating content that is both informative and engaging. She specializes in researching topics and crafting content strategies that help boost engagement and support the studio’s marketing goals.