HTTP/3 doesn’t have a direct effect on SEO despite its faster efficiency, Google states.
Google Search Advocate John Mueller unmasks a theory that the faster speed of HTTP/3 can directly impact
a site’s SEO. This subject is resolved throughout the November 2022 edition of Google’s SEO office-hours Q&A session. Signed up with by the Google Search Relations team, Muller answers the following question:
Could the use of HTTP/3 enhance SEO because it improves efficiency?
HTTP/3 uses performance advantages over HTTP/2 and HTTP/3. However, the performance gains are not likely to make a difference relating to SEO.
Mueller On The SEO Effect Of HTTP/3
Mueller begins his response by specifying Google doesn’t use HTTP/3 as a ranking factor or in web crawling:
“Google does not use HTTP/3 as a factor in ranking at the moment. As far as I know, we don’t utilize it in crawling either.”
Google mostly utilizes HTTP/1 for web crawling. Googlebot supports HTTP/2 however only uses it when there’s a clear advantage over HTTP/1.
Support for HTTP/3 is likely a long way off. Websites that select to embrace it early won’t see a direct improvement in search rankings, Mueller discusses:
“In regards to efficiency, I believe 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 aspect. While making a faster server is constantly a good concept, I doubt you ‘d see a direct connection with SEO just from utilizing HTTP/3. Comparable to how you ‘d be difficult pushed to finding a direct connection to using a much faster type of RAM in your servers.”
Mueller offered a comparable action when asked about HTTP/3 in December 2021.
However, he recommended HTTP/3 could “possibly indirectly” affect core web vitals.
I do not believe we crawl with http/3 however that does not imply you won’t see positive results for users (and with that, potentially indirectly core web vitals too).
— John Mueller is primarily not here (@JohnMu) December 6, 2021
Mueller sounds more positive now in stating that there’s no impact.
Hear his reaction in the video below:
Included Image: SteafPong88/Best SMM Panel