WordPress Update Incorporates Deferred Script Loading for Enhanced Page Speed and Site Performance
In the latest WordPress 6.4 update, script loading has been enhanced to optimize page speed and overall site performance.
With this update, JavaScript files are now loaded deferred or asynchronous, reducing the likelihood of blocking page loading.
These improvements lay the foundation for future optimizations, such as implementing content security policies.
WordPress Version 6.4 Introduces Optimized Script Loading for Enhanced Page Speed
The most recent WordPress update, version 6.4, modifies how scripts are loaded on the website’s front end, promising improved page loading times and overall site performance.
This update includes integrating script loading strategies into WordPress’s core and bundled themes. These strategies leverage the use of “defer” and “async” attributes when loading scripts, instructing the browser to either load them in the background (async) or after the entire page has loaded (defer). This approach significantly accelerates the time it takes for a page to become interactive.
Swift Page Loading Through Smart Script Management
In prior versions, JavaScript files within WordPress themes and plugins were loaded without specifying asynchronous loading. This blocked other downloads and impeded page rendering as these scripts were fetched and executed.
With this update, website visitors will experience faster loading times for pages containing WordPress content, mainly benefiting the Core Web Vitals’ first contentful paint (FCP) metric, which directly impacts the initial appearance speed of a page.
Behind the Scenes: WordPress’s Method for Achieving This
JavaScript files responsible for various website elements, such as navigation menus and embedded media from WordPress.com, now include the ‘defer’ attribute when enqueued. Furthermore, the ‘wp-embed’ script for displaying embedded posts has also been updated to employ the ‘defer’ attribute. In the past, there was no standardized method for adding these attributes. However, with a dedicated API in WordPress 6.3 and its full implementation in version 6.4, developers now have a consistent means to control when their scripts are loaded.
Moreover, this update relocates most deferred scripts into the <head> section because they no longer obstruct the rendering process. This adjustment enables the browser to discover and cache these scripts earlier, improving performance.
A select number of lower-priority scripts, like those responsible for comment replies, remain in the footer but are loaded asynchronously with the ‘async’ attribute, ensuring parallel loading with other resources.
Tangible Benefits for Website Users
Upon updating, visitors to websites featuring WordPress content can expect speedier page loading. Moreover, after the initial page appearance, they will experience reduced “jank” or the shifting of page elements.
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