A slow-loading website can be a major turnoff for visitors and even damage your SEO rankings. One way to improve its loading speed is to use something called lazy loading. So, what is lazy loading exactly?
This technique delays the loading of resources – such as images – until the user scrolls deep enough to see them. Because of this, your website may load much more quickly and respond to user input more effectively.
This article will answer the question “what is lazy loading,” and explain its benefits, considerations, and how to implement it on WordPress websites.
What is lazy loading?
At its core, lazy loading is a strategy that delays loading non-essential elements – such as images, videos, or other multimedia objects – until they appear on the user’s screen. This means that only the visible content is loaded initially, while other assets are fetched and rendered as the user scrolls down the page. This allows the website to load faster, providing a smoother user experience.
How lazy loading works
In a traditional loading scenario, all web page elements are loaded simultaneously when the user accesses the page. This can lead to longer loading times, especially for content-heavy pages. Instead, lazy loading employs a more selective approach. It can be used in two ways:
- JavaScript lazy loading: This method uses JavaScript to load images and resources as the user scrolls.
- Intersection observer API lazy loading: This method uses the Intersection Observer API to load images and resources as they enter the viewport.
The benefits of lazy loading
Now that we’ve answered “what is lazy loading,” here are the benefits of using it on your website:
- Improved page load time: Lazy loading can significantly reduce the size of your initial page load, making your website feel faster and more responsive.
- Saved bandwidth: Lazy loading only loads the images and resources that are actually needed, which can save bandwidth for both you and your visitors.
- Better SEO: Lazy loading can improve your SEO rankings by reducing the time it takes for your pages to load.
- Improved user experience: Lazy loading can improve the user experience of your website by preventing images from popping in as the user scrolls. This is crucial for retaining their attention and reducing bounce rates.
Considerations and drawbacks of lazy loading
While lazy loading is a powerful technique, there are some considerations to keep in mind:
- SEO considerations: Search engines might not index content loaded through lazy loading if it’s not implemented correctly. This could potentially impact a website’s search engine rankings. It’s vital to ensure that essential content is still accessible to search engine bots.
- Possible impact on user experience: In some cases, lazy loading might result in a slight delay when users scroll, as content needs to be fetched. However, when implemented properly, this delay is usually minimal and outweighed by the overall improved user experience.
Adding lazy loading to WordPress
Lazy loading can be effortlessly integrated into your WordPress site using three primary methods:
- WordPress native lazy loading feature: WordPress has streamlined the process by incorporating a native lazy loading feature for images. This optimization is built into WordPress itself, reducing the need for third-party plugins or custom code.
- Browser-level lazy loading: Modern web browsers offer native support for lazy loading. Add the “loading” attribute with a “lazy” value to your HTML elements like images and iframes, instructing the browser to defer loading until they’re in the viewport.
- Lazy loading plugins: Enhance your site’s performance further with specialized plugins like Optimole or a3 Lazy Load. These plugins automate the process, making it easy to provide a faster, more efficient browsing experience.
Final thoughts on what is lazy loading
Lazy loading is a powerful technique that can be used to improve your website’s loading speed and performance. If you are looking for ways to boost the user experience, that’s a great option to consider.
👉 Here’s more info on how to get lazy loading to work on your WordPress site.
