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Surely everyone wants a fast website where Google Search Console statistics show only green lights and users don't suffer from long delays. There are many factors that affect our Core Web Vitals, including the popularly touching images while scrolling Laz Loading known as “lazy image loading.”
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Lazy Loading, also known as lazy loading, is a technique that significantly improves the loading speed of a website. Its essence is that certain resources are loaded only when the user scrolls the page and reaches the area that requires them to be displayed, such as images or videos. Google uses this feature in its search results, combining it with infinite scrolling.
On the first page of results, we see the graphics that the algorithm deems most relevant, and the other resources are loaded dynamically as we scroll. This solution has a beneficial effect on the speed of displaying content, especially those promoted at the beginning of the page being viewed.
First of all, we eliminate the problem (at least partially) associated with delayed loading of resources. Any reduction in network load translates into faster loading of web pages, which in turn minimizes the rejection rate.
Earlier I mentioned the many benefits of implementing Lazy Loading, but what exactly can users look forward to?
Lazy Loading improves site performance and usability.
The main benefit of Lazy Loading is a technical improvement in site performance. A simple implementation of this feature significantly speeds up page loading for users, eliminating the problem of slow loading resources.
Google's algorithms take into account a site's speed as one of the official factors affecting its position in organic search results. With Lazy Loading, therefore, you can positively influence these key metrics.
Loadingζ results in efficient resource management on both the server and client side. Only those elements that the user is currently viewing are loaded, which contributes to resource savings.
Now that we know the principles of Lazy Loading, it is worth noting Eager Loading, which operates in a completely different way, achieving the opposite result. Eager Loading is a method that relies on loading all the indicated resources as quickly as possible. This is particularly useful for sites where it is important to immediately load all key elements necessary for the proper functioning of the website.
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We have already understood what Lazy Loading is and why we would want it to be an integral part of our website. Now it is important to consider why specifically our site needs Lazy Loading. The answer to this question may vary depending on the type of sub-pages we are dealing with.
In the context of online stores, it is worth considering the use of Lazy Load technology for product categories that are located outside of view one (Above The Fold) of the page. For extensive product listings, such an implementation allows for faster delivery of relevant resources to the user, which benefits the overall performance of the site from the user's perspective.
Another area where the use of Lazy Loading can be beneficial is in categories and blog posts. The process works in much the same way as for categories. As the user scrolls through the page, he or she gradually gets new images, while the category itself loads faster. When it comes to blog posts, they represent a slightly different scenario, but we've all experienced how long and cumbersome they can be, requiring us to do a lot of scrolling before we get to the information we need in this online maze. That's why it's important that images that aren't directly in the first field of view when the page loads are only loaded when the user approaches them while scrolling.
For text-based websites, it is recommended that resources that are not necessary for the proper functioning of the site be loaded after the main content is loaded. The use of Lazy Loading for images or videos available on a page can significantly speed up page loading, and the functionality itself is compatible with the latest browsers.
Lazy Loading is particularly applicable to pages containing nested elements. With this technique, a page can be preloaded, skipping <iframe> elements until they are displayed.
The newly introduced Lazy Loading can sometimes create challenges, so it is worth focusing on whether lazy loading of resources has a negative impact on other technical aspects. In some cases, plug-ins automatically assign the lazy attribute to elements located in the Above The Fold area. In such a situation, although the loading time (Largest Contentful Paint) may be reduced, there is a risk that other metrics affecting the rating of the entire site may be affected.
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Having already had the theoretical basics, it's time to move on to practice. So how to implement this enigmatic lazy loading technique? It is necessary to use the appropriate JavaScript, which will be responsible for delayed loading of content outside the Above The Fold area. In this way, we effectively delay the transfer of irrelevant data, at least until it is actually used.
Many content management systems (CMS) offer built-in solutions or provide plug-ins to automatically implement Lazy Loading. For example, in one of the most popular CMSs, which is WordPress, native Lazy Loading has been introduced since version 5.5. To disable it, it is necessary to install an appropriate plugin that performs this operation for us. However, is it always worth turning off something that is beneficial by design? Sometimes native solutions are not optimal. In some templates, the automatic use of Lazy Load for graphics and Above The Fold resources can be an undesirable functionality.
In a situation where our content management system (CMS) does not allow us to install a plug-in for automatic On-Demand Loading of images, there is an alternative solution in the form of ready-made scripts. On the web we can find many sites providing such scripts free of charge. It's worth using an Internet search engine to find an example that interests you, usually the answer can be expected among the first results.
Note, however, that implementing Lazy Loading on your own is a task dedicated to experienced users and web developers. If you do not have sufficient technical knowledge, it is recommended to use the services of agencies or companies specializing in web development.
Google is providing its guidelines for Lazy Loading and the placement of JavaScript in the page code. This means that the implementation of lazy loading is not only accepted by Google developers, but even recommended.
Despite the many advantages of Lazy Loading, there are potential drawbacks, such as complex implementation, compatibility issues and possible loading delays when users scroll quickly. Nevertheless, with proper implementation, the benefits usually outweigh these potential hassles.
For those seeking to optimize their site's performance and improve user experience, Lazy Loading is a valuable tool. Using this feature does not require in-depth technical knowledge, as there are tools and services to help you quickly create websites without a detailed understanding of coding.
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