What Is Lazy Loading?
Lazy loading defers loading of images until the user scrolls near them, using the loading="lazy" attribute on <img> tags. This reduces initial page weight and improves load times.
Why Lazy Loading Matters for SEO
Page speed is a Google ranking factor. Core Web Vitals metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) are directly affected by how many resources load initially. Lazy loading reduces initial requests, meaning faster load times and better LCP scores.
Best Practices
- Add loading="lazy" to below-the-fold images
- Do not lazy-load above-the-fold images — hero images and logos should load immediately
- Use native lazy loading — supported by all modern browsers
How RankNibbler Checks This
RankNibbler counts how many images have the loading="lazy" attribute. Results appear in the Accessibility tab.
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