Lazy loading is a web development technique that improves website performance by loading the content only when it is necessary, as opposed to loading everything at once. This means that you only lazy load resources when they're going to be displayed to the user. This minimizes the initial load time, reduces bandwidth usage, and improves the overall user experience.

How lazy loading works 

Imagine a very long page with lots of images. With lazy loading behavior:

• Only the images you can initially see are loaded. The rest wait patiently until you scroll near them. Placeholder images can be used in the meantime until the full image is loaded.
• Videos won't even start loading until you get to their section on the page. This saves data if you never actually watch them.
• Even some behind-the-scenes code can be loaded only when it's actually needed.

Only the content visible on the screen is loaded during initial page loads. This is in contrast to eager loading, where all images and content are immediately loaded.

Why use lazy loading? 

There are some good reasons why websites use this technique.

• Improved performance. The most noticeable benefit is that web pages feel much quicker to load because they're not trying to download everything at once.
• Better user experience. Users can start interacting with content immediately, without waiting for heavy images or videos to download.
• Less bandwidth usage. If someone doesn't scroll through an entire page, their browser won't have wasted data loading videos or images that they never looked at. This is especially handy for people on their phones with limited data plans, especially when lazy loading images.
• Improved SEO. Don't worry, modern lazy loading is smart enough that search engines can still find and understand all your content.

Implementing lazy loading on your website 

If you're building a website and want to make it faster, the following are some ways to utilize lazy loading.

1. Use the "loading" attribute. In HTML, the loading attribute can be added to images or iframes to enable lazy loading without any additional code.
2. Use JavaScript libraries. There are helpful bits of code that give you more control over how and when things load.
3. Ensure SEO compatibility. Make your lazy loading configuration SEO-friendly through the use of the noscript tag or by ensuring that lazy-loaded content is available for search engines to crawl.
4. Test your site. After setting it up, test your website across different devices to confirm that all is functioning fine.

FAQs about lazy loading

Why is lazy loading important?

Lazy loading makes your website faster, which leads to a better experience for your visitors, especially on phones or slower internet connections.

Can lazy loading negatively affect SEO?

Not if it's done correctly. Modern methods ensure search engines can still see everything.

How does lazy loading improve page speed?

By only loading the stuff you see first, lazy loading reduces the initial amount of data your browser has to download.

Can lazy loading be used for videos and not just images?

Absolutely! Lazy loading is a great way to save bandwidth on videos that might not get watched.

What tools can help me implement lazy loading?

You can use the simple HTML attribute or look into JavaScript libraries for more advanced options.

Enhance your website’s performance with B12

With B12’s website builder, you don’t need to worry about performance optimization. Our platform automatically enhances your site for faster load times, ensuring a smooth user experience. Start building your website today and enjoy improved speed!