Hero section
The hero section is the first area a visitor sees when the page opens.
Also known as: hero · hero area · above the fold
It has one job: to say what this is, in the few seconds before the visitor decides whether to stay. A striking image with no sentence fails at that job; so does a sentence nobody can read.
It is also the most expensive area on the page in performance terms, because it usually holds the largest image or video — which makes it the thing LCP measures.
When to use it
When it makes sense
On every page. The question is not whether to have one but what it should carry.
When it is unnecessary
A full-screen video that says nothing. If the visitor has to scroll to find out what the site is, the hero has failed.
Common questions
Should the hero be full screen?
Not necessarily. A full-screen hero pushes everything else below the fold; leaving a hint of the next section often works better because it invites the scroll.
Video or image?
Video if the motion says something. It must be short, muted, compressed and paired with a still frame as a poster — otherwise it is the slowest part of the page.
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