Performance fix
How to Lazy-Load Off-Screen Images
Defer images below the fold so they don't compete with the initial render.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Impact
- Medium
- Time
- 10 min
Before
<img src="gallery-12.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="...">After
<img src="gallery-12.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="..." loading="lazy" decoding="async">Images that are not lazy-loaded are all fetched during the initial page load, even the ones far below the fold, competing for bandwidth with the content people can actually see. Add loading="lazy" to off-screen images. Leave the largest above-the-fold image eager, because lazy-loading it delays the very element Largest Contentful Paint measures.
Why it matters
Loading every image up front, including ones far below the fold, wastes bandwidth and delays the content users actually see first. Native lazy-loading defers off-screen images until the user scrolls near them.
How to fix it
Add loading="lazy"
Add the attribute to images and iframes that start below the fold.Never lazy-load the hero
Keep above-the-fold / LCP images eager (omit lazy) so they load immediately.
The code
<img src="gallery-12.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="..."><img src="gallery-12.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="..." loading="lazy" decoding="async">On your platform
WordPress
WordPress adds loading="lazy" automatically since 5.5; ensure a "Skip lazy load" rule covers your hero image.
Next.js
next/image lazy-loads by default; pass priority to the hero to opt out.
Sources
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