Definition
First Contentful Paint
The moment when the browser first renders visible page content.
Definition
First Contentful Paint, or FCP, measures when text, images, SVG, or canvas content first appears in the browser viewport.
Meaning
It answers a simple user question: when did something visible show up?
Why It Matters
A faster FCP reduces the feeling that a page is blank or broken, which is especially important for landing pages and mobile visitors.
History And Context
FCP became widely used through browser performance APIs and Lighthouse as teams shifted from technical load events to user-centered performance metrics.