Definition

An intrusive interstitial is a pop-up, overlay, or dialog that covers a page's primary content and obstructs the visitor's access to it. Google identifies avoiding intrusive interstitials as part of providing a good page experience.

Google does not treat every interstitial as a problem. Overlays required by law, such as cookie or age notices, login dialogs on gated content, and reasonably sized banners that do not block the main content, are generally acceptable. The concern is with overlays that dominate the screen immediately on arrival and make the underlying content difficult to reach, which Google says degrades page experience that its ranking systems consider alongside other factors.

Examples

• Full-screen entry overlay

  A page covers all of its content with a full-screen promotional pop-up the moment a visitor arrives from search results.

• Acceptable contrast

  A small banner that uses a reasonable portion of the screen and leaves the article readable is generally not considered intrusive.

Sources

• Google Search Central — Page experience

Related terms

• Page Experience
  Google's umbrella term for signals describing how users perceive a page — Core Web Vitals, HTTPS, mobile usability, and absence of intrusive interstitials.
• Core Web Vitals
  A set of three Google metrics that measure real-world page experience: loading speed, interactivity and visual stability.
• Cumulative Layout Shift
  A Core Web Vitals metric measuring how much visible content unexpectedly shifts position during the lifetime of a page.
• Mobile-Friendly
  A property of a web page that renders legibly and usably on phones without horizontal scrolling, tiny text, or close-packed tap targets.
• Ranking Signal
  One of the many factors a search engine weighs when ordering results for a query, such as relevance, content quality, or usability.

Where QueryCatch uses this

• SEO Audit
• Page Optimisation