Lazy loading
Lazy loading is the practice of loading something only when it is about to be needed.
Also known as: lazy load · deferred loading
Images further down the page, a video in a section nobody has reached, a 3D model in a tab that is closed — none of these need to be downloaded at the start. Loading them on approach makes the first paint dramatically lighter.
The exception matters: the hero image must never be lazy loaded. Delaying the one image the visitor sees first is exactly the wrong trade, and it shows up directly in LCP.
Common questions
Does it hurt SEO?
No, if it is done with the browser’s native attribute and the content is in the HTML. It does hurt if content only exists after a script runs on scroll.
Does it work for 3D models?
Yes, and it matters more there than anywhere. A scene that only loads when its section is reached can save tens of megabytes for a visitor who never scrolls that far.
How does this term apply to your work? Let us talk.
Get in touch