How to run a lighthouse report in Google Chrome

What is a lighthouse report? Imagine you are a teacher and you want to give a website a grade. A "Lighthouse Scan" is a tool inside Google Chrome that checks a url and gives it a report card. It tells you if the site is fast, easy to read, and built correctly.

Step 1: Open Google Chrome

Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.

Step 2: Go to the website

Type in the address of the website you want to test (for example: www.google.com) and press Enter.

Step 3: Open the "Secret Menu"

1. Move your mouse to the middle of the page.

2. Right-click your mouse.

3. A menu will pop up. Click the word Inspect at the very bottom.

   • Note: A confusing box with lots of colorful code will appear on the right or bottom of your screen. Don't worry, you don't need to read it!

Step 4: Find the Lighthouse

1. Look at the very top of that new code box. You will see words like "Elements," "Console," and "Sources."

2. Look for the word Lighthouse.

3. Can't see it? Click the little double arrows (>>) at the top to show more options, then click Lighthouse.

Step 5: Run the Test

1. You will see a big blue button that says Analyze page load. Click it!

2. Wait about 10–20 seconds. Chrome is now testing the site. You might see the website change size or reload. This is normal.

Step 6: Read your Report Card

When it's done, you will see four big circles with numbers from 0 to 100.

• Green Circle (90-100): Great job! The page site is doing well.

• Orange Circle (50-89): Okay, but needs some homework.

• Red Circle (0-49): Uh oh. The site needs a lot of fixing.

What do the scores mean?

• Performance: How fast the website loads (Is it speedy like a race car or slow like a turtle?).

• Accessibility: Can everyone use the website easily, including people who have trouble seeing?

• Best Practices: Is the website safe and built using the correct rules?

• SEO: Is it easy for Google to find this website when people search for it?