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    Core Web Vitals · Glossary

    CLS Score · Definition & Explanation 2026

    The CLS Score quantifies visual instability using session windows. Learn how CLS is calculated, what thresholds mean, and how to interpret your CLS score.

    Updated 2026-02-28
    M
    By Matt Suffoletto

    TL;DR — Quick Summary

    The CLS Score is a unitless number representing cumulative visual instability. It uses a 'session window' approach — shifts are grouped into windows, and the largest window becomes your CLS score. Good CLS is ≤ 0.1.

    What is CLS Score?

    The CLS Score is the final value of the Cumulative Layout Shift metric, calculated using session windows. Layout shifts are grouped into sessions with a maximum 5-second duration and no more than 1-second gap between shifts. The CLS Score is the maximum session window score (not the sum of all shifts). Each shift score = impact fraction × distance fraction.

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