What is Lazy Loading?


What You Need to Know about Lazy Loading

Improves Core Web Vitals Scores

Lazy loading reduces initial page weight and speeds up Largest Contentful Paint, directly impacting Core Web Vitals metrics that Google uses as ranking factors.

Reduces Server Load and Bandwidth

This technique conserves server resources and bandwidth by loading only visible content, benefiting both site performance and hosting costs.

Requires Proper Implementation for Crawlability

Incorrectly implemented lazy loading can prevent search engines from discovering and indexing images, hurting visibility in image search and on-page SEO.

Native Browser Support Available

Modern browsers support native lazy loading through the loading=”lazy” attribute, providing a simple implementation method without JavaScript dependencies.

Above-the-Fold Content Must Load Immediately

Critical viewport content should never be lazy loaded, as delaying above-the-fold elements damages user experience and can hurt Largest Contentful Paint scores.

JavaScript Fallbacks Need Careful Handling

Sites using JavaScript-based lazy loading must ensure resources remain accessible to search engine crawlers, typically through noscript tags or server-side rendering.


Frequently Asked Questions about Lazy Loading

1. How does lazy loading affect SEO and search rankings?

Lazy loading improves rankings indirectly by enhancing page speed and Core Web Vitals. However, improper implementation can prevent search engines from indexing images and content.

2. Should I lazy load images above the fold?

Never lazy load above-the-fold content. This delays critical rendering, hurts Largest Contentful Paint scores, and creates poor user experience that can increase bounce rates.

3. What’s the difference between native and JavaScript lazy loading?

Native lazy loading uses the HTML loading=”lazy” attribute and works without JavaScript. JavaScript solutions offer more control but require proper implementation to ensure crawler accessibility.

4. Does lazy loading work for video and iframe content?

Yes, lazy loading works effectively for videos and iframes, often providing greater performance gains than image lazy loading since these resources are typically larger files.


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Related Terms

SSL Certificate

SSL Certificate encrypts site data and enables HTTPS, a confirmed Google ranking factor that protects user information and builds trust.

SSL certificate

Scrape

Automated extraction of website content and data using bots or scripts, used by search engines for indexing and by others for various purposes.

Scrape

Noopener

Link attribute preventing new tabs from accessing the original page’s JavaScript context, enhancing security and browser performance.

Noopener

Findability

The ability of search engines to discover, crawl, and index your website’s pages, determining what can rank in search results.

Findability


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