HTTP/3 does not have a direct impact on SEO regardless of its faster performance, Google says.
Google Browse Supporter John Mueller unmasks a theory that the faster speed of HTTP/3 can directly affect
a website’s SEO. This subject is resolved throughout the November 2022 edition of Google’s SEO office-hours Q&A session. Joined by the Google Browse Relations group, Muller addresses the following question:
Could making use of HTTP/3 improve SEO due to the fact that it improves performance?
HTTP/3 uses efficiency benefits over HTTP/2 and HTTP/3. However, the performance gains are not likely to make a distinction relating to SEO.
Mueller On The SEO Effect Of HTTP/3
Mueller begins his action by stating Google does not use HTTP/3 as a ranking aspect or in web crawling:
“Google doesn’t utilize HTTP/3 as a factor in ranking at the minute. As far as I understand, we don’t utilize it in crawling either.”
Google primarily utilizes HTTP/1 for web crawling. Googlebot supports HTTP/2 however just utilizes it when there’s a clear advantage over HTTP/1.
Support for HTTP/3 is likely a long way off. Sites that select to embrace it early won’t see a direct enhancement in search rankings, Mueller explains:
“In regards to efficiency, I presume the gains users see from using HTTP/3 would not suffice to considerably impact the core web vitals, which are the metrics that we utilize in the page experience ranking factor. While making a quicker server is always a good idea, I doubt you ‘d see a direct connection with SEO only from using HTTP/3. Similar to how you ‘d be hard pressed to finding a direct connection to utilizing a faster type of RAM in your servers.”
Mueller gave a comparable reaction when asked about HTTP/3 in December 2021.
Nevertheless, he suggested HTTP/3 could “possibly indirectly” impact core web vitals.
I don’t believe we crawl with http/3 but that doesn’t mean you won’t see favorable impacts for users (and with that, possibly indirectly core web vitals too).
— John Mueller is primarily not here (@JohnMu) December 6, 2021
Mueller sounds more positive now in saying that there’s no effect.
Hear his action in the video below:
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