Web Page Load Time Optimization Techniques and Tools

Web page load time is very important. A fast loading Web site increases positive user experience and helps other computers successfully access its content. Load time might become, in the near future, a factor in ranking Web pages and will therefore have direct influence on a Web site's overall success.

Optimizing Html, CSS, scripts, images and multi-media to decrease the dataset that forms a Web page will speed load time and will help lower the cost of hosting and bandwidth. Oftentimes basic optimization efforts such as refactoring code, combining CSS and script files, eliminating duplicates such as whitespace and reducing image file sizes will bring remarkable results. Therefore, these tasks should be the first on the to-do-list when performing load time optimization.

Another technique to optimize for load time is to use lazy-loading or on-demand Javascript. The technique is to load content such as images, CSS and scripts only when needed. This technique requires Java Script to help manage what is loaded and when with Ajax programming as the underlying method.

Below is a list of plugins and scripts that can help webmasters use Ajax techniques for lazy-loading of content such as images and code.

Related tools:

• YUI 3: ImageLoader
• Lazy loader - A plugin for jQuery that delays loading of content such as images.
• lazierLoad - A script for the Prototype library that controls image loading.

Related video:

Speed Up Your JavaScript

Filed under: Optimizing , Rich Internet Applications

Posted by: Webmaster on : January 2010