Defer Offscreen Images

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Quick Reference

Element Code: PE-008

Issue: Images below the fold load immediately instead of being lazy loaded

Impact: Wasted bandwidth and slower initial page load

Fix: Implement lazy loading for offscreen images

Detection: Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights

What Is This Issue?

Loading images that are not immediately visible wastes bandwidth and delays critical resources. Lazy loading defers these images until users scroll near them.

Why This Matters for Your Website

Lazy loading can significantly reduce initial page weight and improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) by prioritizing above-the-fold content.

How to Fix This Issue

  1. Add loading="lazy": Native browser lazy loading
  2. Use Intersection Observer: For more control
  3. Exclude above-fold images: Do not lazy load LCP images

Tools for Detection

  • Lighthouse: Identifies lazy load candidates

TL;DR (The Simple Version)

Images below the fold are loading immediately. Add loading="lazy" to images that are not visible on initial page load.

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