State of the Web — May 2026

State of the Web — May 2026

Executive Summary

The web landscape in May 2026 reveals a mixed bag of performance and compliance among the analyzed websites. With an overall average score of 75 out of 100, the findings indicate that while many sites are meeting basic standards, significant gaps remain in areas such as security and SEO compliance. Key findings include:

• Only 13% of sites achieved an A/A+ security grade.
• 88% of sites are lacking structured data, which is critical for SEO.
• There is a notable performance gap of 9 points between desktop and mobile averages.
• 100% of sites have valid SSL certificates, but only 81% implement HTTPS redirects.

Detailed Analysis

Score Distribution

From the 16 websites scanned, the score distribution is as follows:

• 60-69: 4 sites
• 70-79: 7 sites
• 80-89: 4 sites
• 90-100: 1 site

Average Scores

The overall average scores across various categories are:

• Overall: 75/100
• Speed: 79
• SEO: 68
• Mobile: 82
• Security: 59
• Accessibility: 75
• Content: 76

Core Web Vitals

The median values for Core Web Vitals indicate the following performance metrics:

• LCP: 3264ms
• FCP: 1772ms
• TTFB: 6ms
• CLS: 0.000
• TBT: 58ms
• Speed Index: 4462ms

Security Analysis

Security remains a critical concern:

• SSL valid: 100%
• HTTPS redirect: 81%
• HSTS: 19%
• CSP: 38%
• A/A+ security grade: 13%

SEO Compliance

SEO compliance is another area needing improvement:

• Title: 100%
• Meta description: 81%
• Canonical: 69%
• Sitemap: 75%
• Robots.txt: 88%
• Schema markup: 13%
• OG tags: 75%

CMS Breakdown

Among the analyzed sites, 11 were built on WordPress, with an average score of 75. This indicates that WordPress remains a popular choice, yet its users must also prioritize compliance and performance.

Desktop vs Mobile Performance

The performance gap between desktop and mobile is significant:

• Desktop average: 77
• Mobile average: 68
• Performance gap: 9 points

Top Issues Found

The most common issues identified across the websites include:

• No structured data: 88% of sites
• Missing HSTS header: 81% of sites
• Missing canonical tag: 31% of sites
• Missing sitemap: 25% of sites
• Missing Open Graph tags: 25% of sites
• Missing meta description: 19% of sites
• No HTTPS redirect: 19% of sites
• Missing robots.txt: 13% of sites
• Missing title tag: 0% of sites
• Invalid or missing SSL: 0% of sites

Comparison with Web Standards

When comparing these results with established web standards, it is evident that while many sites are performing adequately, they fall short in critical areas such as security and SEO. The lack of structured data is particularly concerning, as it directly impacts search engine visibility and user experience.

Actionable Recommendations

• Enhance Security: Implement HSTS and Content Security Policies to improve site security.
• Improve SEO Compliance: Focus on adding structured data and canonical tags to enhance search visibility.
• Optimize for Mobile: Address the performance gap by optimizing mobile site speed and user experience.
• Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits using comprehensive tools to ensure ongoing compliance with web standards.

Methodology Note

This report is based on a comprehensive analysis conducted by SlapMyWeb.com, utilizing over 240 checks, 16 agents, and 11 pillars to evaluate the performance, security, and compliance of the websites. The methodology ensures a robust and thorough assessment, providing valuable insights into the state of the web.

"The state of the web is a reflection of our collective efforts to create a secure, accessible, and high-performing online environment. Continuous improvement is essential to meet the evolving expectations of users and search engines alike."