HTTP/3 does not have a direct impact on SEO in spite of its faster efficiency, 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 topic is addressed during the November 2022 edition of Google’s SEO office-hours Q&A session. Joined by the Google Search Relations team, Muller answers the following question:
Could making use of HTTP/3 improve SEO due to the fact that it improves efficiency?
HTTP/3 offers efficiency benefits over HTTP/2 and HTTP/3. Nevertheless, the efficiency gains are not likely to make a difference concerning SEO.
Mueller On The SEO Impact Of HTTP/3
Mueller begins his action by mentioning Google doesn’t utilize HTTP/3 as a ranking element or in web crawling:
“Google doesn’t use HTTP/3 as a factor in ranking at the moment. As far as I understand, we do not use it in crawling either.”
Google mainly utilizes HTTP/1 for web crawling. Googlebot supports HTTP/2 however only utilizes it when there’s a clear advantage over HTTP/1.
Assistance for HTTP/3 is likely a long method off. Sites that choose to adopt it early will not see a direct enhancement in search rankings, Mueller describes:
“In regards to efficiency, I presume the gains users see from utilizing HTTP/3 would not be enough to substantially impact the core web vitals, which are the metrics that we use in the page experience ranking element. While making a quicker server is constantly a good idea, I question you ‘d see a direct connection with SEO only from utilizing HTTP/3. Similar to how you ‘d be hard pressed to finding a direct connection to using a faster type of RAM in your servers.”
Mueller gave a similar reaction when inquired about HTTP/3 in December 2021.
However, he recommended HTTP/3 might “possibly indirectly” affect core web vitals.
I don’t believe we crawl with http/3 but that does not suggest you won’t see positive results for users (and with that, possibly indirectly core web vitals too).
— John Mueller is mainly not here (@JohnMu) December 6, 2021
Mueller sounds more confident now in saying that there’s no impact.
Hear his response in the video listed below:
Included Image: SteafPong88/Best SMM Panel