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Interaction to Next Paint

INP assesses responsiveness to user interactions through delay until the next visual update.

Interaction and the next frame

  1. Click / tap / key
  2. Event processing
  3. Next paint
INP assesses interaction responsiveness under the metric’s rules, not just initial loading speed.

How it works

Reduce heavy main-thread work and inspect actual problematic interactions.

Example

Example: A catalog filter responds slowly because of extensive synchronous processing.

Common mistakes

One fast lab click does not describe every real interaction.

How can you check this in practice?

Test clicks, taps and keys in actual page workflows. In a performance trace, separate input delay, processing and time to the next paint. Long JavaScript tasks can delay responses even after a fast initial load; the good threshold is ≤200 ms.

Distinctions and limitations

INP assesses responsiveness throughout a visit, not only the first click. One lab scenario can miss a menu or form problem. An absence of measured interactions does not establish good INP.

Official sources

Editorial responsibility: Martin Zhelyazkov · Founder of Z-Consult

Updated: 05/11/2026

For a correction or question: office@z-consult.bg