Lazy Loading Images—Improve Page Load 2026
New2026-02-011 min read1 tool
Load images only when needed. Reduce initial load. Guide for developers.
What is Lazy Loading?
Images load only when they enter the viewport. Reduces initial load time and data usage.
Implementation
Add loading="lazy" to img tags. Modern browsers support it natively. No JavaScript required.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is lazy loading?
- Lazy loading delays loading images until they are about to enter the viewport. Images below the fold load only when the user scrolls. This reduces initial page load time and data usage. Supported natively in all modern browsers with loading="lazy".
- How do I enable lazy loading?
- Add loading="lazy" to your img tags. No JavaScript or library needed. Browsers handle it automatically. Do not lazy load the first image (hero)—it should load immediately for good LCP. Use for images below the fold.
- Does lazy loading affect SEO?
- No. Google supports lazy loading and crawls lazy-loaded content. It can improve Core Web Vitals by reducing initial load. Ensure images have proper alt text. Avoid lazy loading above-the-fold images—they should load with the page.