Lazy loading is a technique that delays loading images and videos until they’re actually needed, typically when a user scrolls close to them on the page. Instead of loading every image when the page first opens, the browser only loads what’s visible on screen initially, then loads the rest as the user scrolls down.
Why Lazy Loading Helps
- Faster initial page load times, since the browser loads less upfront
- Lower bandwidth usage, especially for users who don’t scroll to the bottom
- Better Core Web Vitals scores, which affect Google rankings
- Improved experience for mobile users on slower connections
Lazy Loading in WordPress
WordPress has built-in lazy loading for images since version 5.5. It adds the loading=”lazy” attribute to images automatically. You don’t need to configure anything; it works out of the box for most standard content.
Lazy Loading for Iframes and Videos
Embedded videos (like YouTube iframes) don’t lazy load by default in WordPress. You’ll need a plugin or custom code for that. Plugins like Perfmatters or WP Rocket include options to lazy load iframes and videos.
When NOT to Lazy Load
Don’t lazy load images that appear above the fold (visible without scrolling). Those should load immediately for a good user experience.
Related: Page Speed
