Lazy loading is a technique that delays loading images and videos until they're actually needed — typically, right as a visitor scrolls close enough to see them. Instead of loading every single image the moment a page opens, the browser loads only what's immediately visible, fetching the rest gradually as the visitor scrolls further down.
How It Helps a Site
- Meaningfully faster initial page load, since far fewer resources load right away
- Reduced bandwidth use for both the visitor and the server
- A generally smoother browsing experience, particularly on image-heavy pages
Lazy Loading in WordPress
WordPress has had built-in lazy loading for images since version 5.5, automatically adding a `loading="lazy"` attribute with no extra configuration required. Embedded videos, such as YouTube iframes, don't lazy load by default — that typically needs a plugin like Perfmatters or WP Rocket.
One Important Exception
Images appearing "above the fold" — visible without any scrolling — should generally load immediately rather than being lazy-loaded. Delaying those specific images can actually hurt the perceived speed of a page, since it's the very first thing a visitor sees.
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