What Is Google Lighthouse

[Annie_P]

What Is Google Lighthouse and How to Use It?

[Delaney martin]

What Is Google Lighthouse?


Google Lighthouse is an open-source tool developed by Google that helps web developers and site owners analyze and improve their website’s performance, accessibility, SEO, and overall user experience. It provides detailed audits and recommendations to optimize your site for better speed and search engine rankings.

Lighthouse can be used for any web page, public or private, and is especially useful for testing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). The tool runs automated tests and generates a detailed report on areas that need improvement.


Key Features of Google Lighthouse

1. Performance – Measures page speed, load times, and rendering performance.
2. Accessibility – Checks for issues that may affect users with disabilities.
3. Best Practices – Ensures adherence to web development best practices.
4. SEO – Analyzes basic on-page SEO factors.
5. Progressive Web App (PWA) – Evaluates if the site follows PWA guidelines.

How to Use Google Lighthouse

Using Google Chrome DevTools

1. Open Google Chrome and visit the webpage you want to audit.
2. Press F12 (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Option + I (Mac) to open DevTools.
3. Click on the "Lighthouse" tab.
4. Select the categories you want to test (Performance, SEO, etc.).
5. Click "Analyze page load" and wait for the report to generate.