@mottor/vanilla-lazyload v17.3.2

Based on https://github.com/verlok/vanilla-lazyload
version: 17.3.0

LazyLoad is a lightweight (2.4 kB) and flexible script that speeds up your web application by deferring the loading of your below-the-fold images, videos and iframes to when they will enter the viewport. It's written in plain "vanilla" JavaScript, it leverages the IntersectionObserver API, it supports responsive images, it optimizes your website for slower connections, and can enable native lazy loading. See notable features for more.

➡️ Jump to: 👨‍💻 Getting started - HTML - 👩‍💻 Getting started - Script - 🥧 Recipes - 📺 Demos - 😋 Tips & tricks - 🔌 API - 😯 Notable features

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👨‍💻 Getting started - HTML

In order to make your content be loaded by LazyLoad, you must use some data- attributes instead of the actual attributes. Examples below.

Lazy image:

<img alt="A lazy image" class="lazy" data-src="lazy.jpg" />

Lazy image with low quality placeholder:

<img alt="A lazy image" class="lazy" src="lazy-lowQuality.jpg" data-src="lazy.jpg" />

Lazy responsive image with srcset and sizes:

<img
  alt="A lazy image"
  class="lazy"
  data-src="lazy.jpg"
  data-srcset="lazy_400.jpg 400w, 
    lazy_800.jpg 800w"
  data-sizes="100w"
/>

To have a low quality placeholder, add the src attribute pointing to a very small version of the image. E.g. src="lazy_10.jpg".

Lazy responsive image with hi-dpi support using the picture tag:

<picture>
  <source media="(min-width: 1200px)" data-srcset="lazy_1200.jpg 1x, lazy_2400.jpg 2x" />
  <source media="(min-width: 800px)" data-srcset="lazy_800.jpg 1x, lazy_1600.jpg 2x" />
  <img alt="A lazy image" class="lazy" data-src="lazy.jpg" />
</picture>

To have a low quality placeholder, add the src attribute pointing to a very small version of the image to the img tag. E.g. src="lazy_10.jpg".

Lazy responsive image with automatic WebP format selection, using the picture tag:

<picture>
  <source
    type="image/webp"
    data-srcset="lazy_400.webp 400w, 
      lazy_800.webp 800w"
    data-sizes="100w"
  />
  <img
    alt="A lazy image"
    class="lazy"
    data-src="lazy.jpg"
    data-srcset="lazy_400.jpg 400w, 
      lazy_800.jpg 800w"
    data-sizes="100w"
  />
</picture>

To have a low quality placeholder, add the src attribute pointing to a very small version of the image to the img tag. E.g. src="lazy_10.jpg".

Lazy background image

⚠ IMPORTANT NOTE: To display content images on your pages, always use the img tag. This would benefit the SEO and the accessibility of your website. To understand if your images are content or background, ask yourself: "would my website user like to see those images when printing out the page?". If the answer is "yes", then your images are content images and you should avoid using background images to display them.

Single background image:

<div class="lazy" data-bg="lazy.jpg"></div>

Single background, with HiDPI screen support:

<div class="lazy" data-bg="lazy.jpg" data-bg-hidpi="lazy@2x.jpg"></div>

Multiple backgrounds:

<div
  class="lazy"
  data-bg-multi="url(lazy-head.jpg), 
    url(lazy-body.jpg), 
    linear-gradient(#fff, #ccc)"
>
  ...
</div>

ℹ Please note that you must use url() to wrap the URLs in your data-bg-multi attributes.

Multiple backgrounds, HiDPI screen support:

<div
  class="lazy"
  data-bg-multi="url(lazy-head.jpg),
    url(lazy-body.jpg),
    linear-gradient(#fff, #ccc)"
  data-bg-multi-hidpi="url(lazy-head@2x.jpg),
    url(lazy-body@2x.jpg),
    linear-gradient(#fff, #ccc)"
>
  ...
</div>

ℹ Please note that you must use url() to wrap the URLs in your data-bg-multi-hidpi attributes.

Lazy video

<video class="lazy" controls width="620" data-src="lazy.mp4" data-poster="lazy.jpg">
  <source type="video/mp4" data-src="lazy.mp4" />
  <source type="video/ogg" data-src="lazy.ogg" />
  <source type="video/avi" data-src="lazy.avi" />
</video>

Please note that the video poster can be lazily loaded too.

Lazy iframe

<iframe class="lazy" data-src="lazyFrame.html"> </iframe>

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👩‍💻 Getting started - Script

The latest, recommended version of LazyLoad is 17.3.0.

Quickly understand how to upgrade from a previous version reading the practical upgrade guide.

To polyfill or not to polyfill IntersectionObserver?

On browser NOT supporting IntersectionObserver such as Internet explorer and older versions of Safari you can choose whether or not to add a javascript polyfill for it.

If you don't use a polyfill, LazyLoad will load all the images as soon as it's downloaded and executed. The number of impacted users would be relatively small, so this is a completely acceptable choice.

If you prefer to load a polyfill, the regular LazyLoad behaviour is granted.

The simple, easiest way

The easiest way to use LazyLoad is to include the script from a CDN:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@17.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"></script>

Or, with the IntersectionObserver polyfill:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/intersection-observer@0.7.0/intersection-observer.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@17.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"></script>

Then, in your javascript code:

var lazyLoadInstance = new LazyLoad({
  // Your custom settings go here
});

To be sure that DOM for your lazy content is ready when you instantiate LazyLoad, place the script tag right before the closing </body> tag. If more DOM arrives later, e.g. via an AJAX call, you'll need to call lazyLoadInstance.update(); to make LazyLoad check the DOM again.

lazyLoadInstance.update();

Include via RequireJS

You can use RequireJS to dynamically and asynchronously load modules in your website.

You can also find the original W3C'S IntersectionObserver Polyfill packed in AMD so you can require it conditionally, along with LazyLoad.

Include RequireJS:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/requirejs@2.3.6/bin/r.min.js"></script>

Then require the AMD version of LazyLoad, like this:

var lazyLoadAmdUrl = "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@17.3.0/dist/lazyload.amd.min.js";
var polyfillAmdUrl = "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/intersection-observer-amd@2.0.1/intersection-observer-amd.js";

/// Dynamically define the dependencies
var dependencies = [
    "IntersectionObserver" in window
        ? null // <- Doesn't require the polyfill
        : polyfillAmdUrl,
    lazyLoadAmdUrl
];

// Initialize LazyLoad inside the callback
require(dependencies, function(_, LazyLoad) {
    var lazyLoadInstance = new LazyLoad({
        // Your custom settings go here
    });
}

DEMO - SOURCE

Using an async script

If you prefer, it's possible to include LazyLoad's script using async script and initialize it as soon as it's loaded.

To do so, you must define the options before including the script. You can pass:

• {} an object to get a single instance of LazyLoad
• [{}, {}] an array of objects to get multiple instances of LazyLoad, each one with different options.

<script>
  // Set the options globally
  // to make LazyLoad self-initialize
  window.lazyLoadOptions = {
    // Your custom settings go here
  };
</script>

Then include the script.

<script
  async
  src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@17.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"
></script>

Possibly place the script tag right before the closing </body> tag. If you can't do that, LazyLoad could be executed before the browser has loaded all the DOM, and you'll need to call its update() method to make it check the DOM again.

Using an async script + getting the instance reference

Same as above, but you must put the addEventListener code shown below before including the async script.

<script>
  // Set the options globally
  // to make LazyLoad self-initialize
  window.lazyLoadOptions = {
    // Your custom settings go here
  };
  // Listen to the initialization event
  // and get the instance of LazyLoad
  window.addEventListener(
    "LazyLoad::Initialized",
    function (event) {
      window.lazyLoadInstance = event.detail.instance;
    },
    false
  );
</script>

Then include the script.

<script
  async
  src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@17.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"
></script>

Now you'll be able to call its methods, like:

lazyLoadInstance.update();

Note about Internet Explorer: because this technique uses a CustomEvent to trigger the LazyLoad::Initialized event, you might want to add this polyfill to make it work on Internet Explorer.

DEMO - SOURCE ← for a single LazyLoad instance

DEMO - SOURCE ← for multiple LazyLoad instances

Local install

If you prefer to install LazyLoad locally in your project, you can!

Using npm

npm install vanilla-lazyload

Using bower

bower install vanilla-lazyload

Manual download

Download one the latest releases. The files you need are inside the dist folder. If you don't know which one to pick, use lazyload.min.js, or read about bundles.

Local usage

Should you install LazyLoad locally, you can import it as ES module like the following:

import LazyLoad from "vanilla-lazyload";

It's also possible (but unadvised) to use the require commonJS syntax.

More information about bundling LazyLoad with WebPack are available on this specific repo.

Usage with React

Take a look at this example of usage of React with LazyLoad on Sandbox.

This implementation takes the same props that you would normally pass to the img tag, but it renders a lazy image. Feel free to fork and improve it!

Bundles

Inside the dist folder you will find different bundles.

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🥧 Recipes

This is the section where you can find ready to copy & paste code for your convenience.

Hide alt text and empty image

💡 Use case: when your lazily loaded images show their alt text and the empty image icon before loading.

CSS

img:not([src]):not([srcset]) {
  visibility: hidden;
}

Just that, really.

Dynamic content

💡 Use case: when you want to lazily load images, but the number of images change in the scrolling area changes, maybe because they are added asynchronously.

HTML

The HTML to use depends on your case, see other recipes' HTML

Javascript

var myLazyLoad = new LazyLoad();
// After your content has changed...
myLazyLoad.update();

DEMO - SOURCE - API

Mixed native and JS-based lazy loading

💡 Use case: you want to use the use_native option to delegate the loading of images to the browsers engine where supported, but you also want to lazily load backgroud images or videos.

HTML

<img class="lazy" alt="A lazy image" data-src="lazy.jpg" />
<iframe class="lazy" data-src="lazyFrame.html"></iframe>
<video class="lazy" controls data-src="lazy.mp4" data-poster="lazy.jpg">...</video>
<div class="lazy" data-bg="lazy.jpg"></div>

Javascript

// Instance using native lazy loading
const lazyContent = new LazyLoad({
  use_native: true // <-- there you go
});

// Instance without native lazy loading
const lazyBackground = new LazyLoad({
  // DON'T PASS use_native: true HERE
});

Scrolling panel(s)

💡 Use case: when your scrolling container is not the main browser window, but a scrolling container.

HTML

<div class="scrollingPanel">
  <!-- Set of images -->
</div>

Javascript

var myLazyLoad = new LazyLoad({
  container: document.querySelector(".scrollingPanel")
});

DEMO - SOURCE - API

If you have multiple scrolling panels, you can use the following markup and code.

HTML

<div id="scrollingPanel1" class="scrollingPanel">
  <!-- Set of images -->
</div>
<div id="scrollingPanel2" class="scrollingPanel">
  <!-- Set of images -->
</div>

Javascript

var myLazyLoad1 = new LazyLoad({
  container: document.getElementById("scrollingPanel1")
});
var myLazyLoad2 = new LazyLoad({
  container: document.getElementById("scrollingPanel2")
});

DEMO - SOURCE - API

Lazy functions

💡 Use case: when you want to execute arbitrary scripts or functions when given elements enter the viewport

HTML

<div class="lazy" data-lazy-function="foo">...</div>
<div class="lazy" data-lazy-function="bar">...</div>
<div class="lazy" data-lazy-function="buzz">...</div>
<div class="lazy" data-lazy-function="booya">...</div>

JS

// It's a best practice to scope the function names inside a namespace like `lazyFunctions`.
window.lazyFunctions = {
  foo: function (element) {
    element.style.color = "red";
    console.log("foo");
  },
  bar: function (element) {
    element.remove(element);
    console.log("bar");
  },
  buzz: function (element) {
    var span = document.createElement("span");
    span.innerText = " - buzz!";
    element.appendChild(span);
    console.log("buzz");
  },
  booya: function (element) {
    element.classList.add("boo");
    console.log("booya");
  }
};

function executeLazyFunction(element) {
  var lazyFunctionName = element.getAttribute("data-lazy-function");
  var lazyFunction = window.lazyFunctions[lazyFunctionName];
  if (!lazyFunction) return;
  lazyFunction(element);
}

var ll = new LazyLoad({
  unobserve_entered: true, // <- Avoid executing the function multiple times
  callback_enter: executeLazyFunction // Assigning the function defined above
});

Use unobserve_entered to avoid executing the function multiple times.

That's it. Whenever an element with the data-lazy-function attribute enters the viewport, LazyLoad calls the executeLazyScript function, which gets the function name from the data-lazy-function attribute itself and executes it.

DEMO - SOURCE - API

Lazy initialization of multiple LazyLoad instances

💡 Use case: when you have a lot of horizontally scrolling containers and you want to instantiate a LazyLoad instance on them, but only when they entered the viewport.

HTML

<div class="horizContainer">
  <img
    src=""
    alt="Row 01, col 01"
    data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_01_col_01&amp;w=200&amp;h=200"
  />
  <img
    src=""
    alt="Row 01, col 02"
    data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_01_col_02&amp;w=200&amp;h=200"
  />
  <!-- ... -->
</div>
<div class="horizContainer">
  <img
    src=""
    alt="Row 02, col 01"
    data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_02_col_01&amp;w=200&amp;h=200"
  />
  <img
    src=""
    alt="Row 02, col 02"
    data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_02_col_02&amp;w=200&amp;h=200"
  />
  <!-- ... -->
</div>

Javascript

var lazyLoadInstances = [];

var initOneLazyLoad = function (horizContainerElement) {
  // When the .horizContainer element enters the viewport,
  // instantiate a new LazyLoad on the horizContainerElement
  var oneLL = new LazyLoad({
    container: horizContainerElement
  });
  // Optionally push it in the lazyLoadInstances
  // array to keep track of the instances
  lazyLoadInstances.push(oneLL);
};

// The "lazyLazy" instance of lazyload is used to check
// when the .horizContainer divs enter the viewport
var lazyLazy = new LazyLoad({
  elements_selector: ".horizContainer",
  callback_enter: initOneLazyLoad,
  unobserve_entered: true // Stop observing .horizContainer(s) after they entered
});

That's it. Whenever a .horizContainer element enters the viewport, LazyLoad calls the initOneLazyLoad function, which creates a new instance of LazyLoad on the .horizContainer element.

DEMO - SOURCE - API

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📺 Demos

Didn't find the recipe that exactly matches your case? We have demos!

The demos folder contains 30+ use cases of vanilla-lazyload. You might find there what you're looking for.

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😋 Tips & tricks

Occupy space and avoid content reflow

It's a good idea to make sure that your lazy images occupy some space even before they are loaded, otherwise the img elements will be shrinked to zero-height, causing your layout to reflow and making lazyload inefficient.

There are many ways to avoid content reflow. I've tested three of them and found that the fastest is to avoid using a placeholder at all, and use the vertical padding trick.

Vertical padding trick

<div class="image-wrapper">
  <img class="lazy image" alt="An image" data-src="lazy.jpg" />
</div>

.image-wrapper {
  width: 100%;
  height: 0;
  padding-bottom: 150%;
  /* 👆 image height / width * 100% */
  position: relative;
}
.image {
  width: 100%;
  height: auto;
  position: absolute;
}

More info in Sizing Fluid Image Containers with a Little CSS Padding Hack by Andy Shora. Find also a useful SASS mixin to maintain aspect ratio on CSS tricks.

Inline SVG

If you can't use the vertical padding trick for some reason, the best option is to use an SVG placeholder of the same ratio of the lazy images.

<img
  src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg 
    xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' 
    viewBox='0 0 3 2'%3E%3C/svg%3E"
  data-src="//picsum.photos/900/600"
  alt="Lazy loading test image"
/>

Alternatively (but less efficiently) you can use a tiny, scaled-down version of your images as a placeholder, stretching them to the final size of the images, and obtain a blur-up effect when the full images load.

Using a placeholder image will also make sure that browsers don't show your alt content instead of the images before the lazy-loading starts.

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🔌 API

Constructor arguments

The new LazyLoad() instruction you execute on your page can take two parameters:

The most common usage of LazyLoad constructor is to pass only the options object (see "options" in the next section). For example:

var aLazyLoad = new LazyLoad({
  /* options here */
});

In the unusual cases when you can't select the elements using elements_selector, you could pass the elements set as a second parameter. It can be either a NodeSet or an array of DOM elements.

var elementsToLazyLoad = getElementSetFromSomewhere();
var aLazyLoad = new LazyLoad(
  {
    /* options here */
  },
  elementsToLazyLoad
);

Options

For every instance of LazyLoad you can pass in some options, to alter its default behaviour. Here's the list of the options.

Methods

Instance methods

You can call the following methods on any instance of LazyLoad.

Static methods

You can call the following static methods on the LazyLoad class itself (e.g. LazyLoad.load(element, settings)).

Properties

You can use the following properties on any instance of LazyLoad.

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😯 Notable features

It works with your favourite library or framework

As LazyLoad doesn't rely on jQuery, you can use it in web applications using Angular, React or Vue.js without the need to include jQuery.

Intersection Observer API for optimized CPU usage

Instead of listening to the scroll and resize events, LazyLoad uses the Intersection Observer API which is a new, blazing fast method to detect if an element is inside the browser viewport. Your users will see the difference in slow and even in fast devices or computers.

SEO friendly

LazyLoad doesn't hide your images from search engines, even if you don't specify any initial src for your image.

Flaky connections supported

If your users lose the internet connection causing errors on images loading, this script tries and loads those images again when the connection is restored.

Optimize for slow connections

LazyLoad optimizes for slow connections by cancelling the download of images when they exit the viewport.

Support for responsive images

LazyLoad supports responsive images, both via the srcset & sizes attributes and via the picture tag.

Support for single and background images, and HiDPI displays

LazyLoad supports single and multiple lazy background images, with standard resolution or HiDPI (retina) displays.

Tested on real browsers

Legacy browsers support is from IE 9 up. This script is tested in every browser before every release using BrowserStack live, thanks to the BrowserStack Open Source initiative.

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