HTTP/3 doesn’t have a direct effect on SEO regardless of its faster efficiency, Google says.
Google Browse Supporter John Mueller exposes a theory that the faster speed of HTTP/3 can directly affect
a site’s SEO. This topic is addressed throughout the November 2022 edition of Google’s SEO office-hours Q&A session. Signed up with by the Google Browse Relations group, Muller answers the following question:
Could the use of HTTP/3 enhance SEO since it enhances efficiency?
HTTP/3 uses efficiency advantages over HTTP/2 and HTTP/3. Nevertheless, the efficiency gains are unlikely to make a difference regarding SEO.
Mueller On The SEO Impact Of HTTP/3
Mueller starts his response by specifying Google doesn’t use HTTP/3 as a ranking aspect or in web crawling:
“Google does not use HTTP/3 as a factor in ranking at the moment. As far as I understand, we don’t utilize it in crawling either.”
Google mainly uses HTTP/1 for web crawling. Googlebot supports HTTP/2 however only utilizes it when there’s a clear benefit over HTTP/1.
Support for HTTP/3 is likely a long way off. Websites that pick to embrace it early won’t see a direct enhancement in search rankings, Mueller describes:
“In regards to efficiency, I believe the gains users see from utilizing HTTP/3 would not be enough to considerably affect the core web vitals, which are the metrics that we use in the page experience ranking aspect. While making a much faster server is constantly a good concept, I doubt you ‘d see a direct connection with SEO only from utilizing HTTP/3. Comparable to how you ‘d be tough pushed to finding a direct connection to using a faster kind of RAM in your servers.”
Mueller offered a similar action when asked about HTTP/3 in December 2021.
However, he suggested HTTP/3 could “potentially indirectly” impact core web vitals.
I don’t believe we crawl with http/3 however that doesn’t indicate you will not see positive effects for users (and with that, potentially indirectly core web vitals too).
— John Mueller is mostly not here (@JohnMu) December 6, 2021
Mueller sounds more positive now in saying that there’s no impact.
Hear his response in the video below:
Included Image: SteafPong88/Best SMM Panel