What is Lazy Loading? (And Why It Can 2x Your Page Speed)
Lazy loading is a web performance optimization technique that prioritizes critical content first and defers loading of non-essential resources until later—typically when a user scrolls near them. Instead of loading everything up front (which increases page load time), lazy loading improves site speed, reduces bounce rates, and boosts perceived performance. This is especially crucial for modern, media-heavy websites and mobile experiences. According to Google, increasing page load time from 1s to 3s increases bounce probability by 32%. Lazy loading is your insurance policy against that.
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Use Cases
Enhance shopping experiences by loading product thumbnails and galleries only when users scroll. Keeps bounce rates low and conversions high.
Mobile users expect speed. Lazy loading reduces cellular data usage and load times—key for improving Core Web Vitals on mobile.
Lazy load media in long-form blog posts to increase time on site, lower bounce rate, and improve SEO without sacrificing content richness.
Image-Heavy Portfolios
Frequently Asked Questions
Does lazy loading hurt SEO?
No—if implemented correctly. Googlebot fully supports lazy loading for images and iframes, especially when using native HTML loading attributes or Intersection Observer APIs. It can actually boost SEO by improving load times and Core Web Vitals.
How do I implement lazy loading?
For images, use the native HTML attribute loading="lazy". For more advanced control, use JavaScript with Intersection Observer. Popular CMS platforms like WordPress often have plugins that enable lazy loading with one click.
Is lazy loading the same as infinite scroll?
Not exactly. Lazy loading refers to deferring specific content until it's needed. Infinite scroll loads new content continuously as the user nears the bottom. You can combine both, but they serve different UX goals.
Which assets should I lazy load?
Only if done incorrectly. Common issues include content not loading until interaction or poor integration with SEO crawlers. Stick with modern, well-documented implementations to avoid these.
Can lazy loading break my site?
Sites using lazy loading often see a 20–50% decrease in initial load times. In real-world terms, that can mean shaving 1–3 seconds off your page speed—dramatically improving user engagement and conversion rates.
Related Terms
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