10 Best Lazy Loading JavaScript and jQuery Plugins (2023 Update)
What is Lazy Loading
Lazy Loading a modern web technology to speed up your web app, improve user experience and boost search engine rankings.
The Lazy Loading web technology has the ability to defer the loading of images or other DOM elements (e.g. iframes, videos, Google Maps, Youtube players, scripts, stylesheets, etc) when they come into view when scrolling through the page.
Thanks to the IntersectionObserver API, implementing the Lazy Loading on your web app is a simple task via a little bit of JavaScript. But now there is an easier way: Native Lazy Loading.
What is Native Lazy Loading
Google will introduce the native lazy loading feature in the next browser version (Chrome 75+).
The new loading attribute which brings native <img> and <iframe> lazy-loading to the web:
<img src="jqueryscript.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="..." />
However, you may still need a third-party tool to achieve this feature for those who are using other browsers or legacy browsers.
The Best Lazy Loading Plugins:
In this post you will find the 10 best jQuery and Vanilla JavaScript lazy loading plugins to achieve the lazy loading functionality on your cross-browser and cross-platform web apps. I hope you like it.
Originally Published Nov 28 2017, updated Jan 09 2023
Table of contents:
jQuery Lazy Loading Plugins:
1. Lightweight jQuery Image Lazy Load Plugin - unveil
A useful and lightweight jQuery plugin for delaying loading of large images in long web pages for reducing the page loading time to improve user experiences.
2. jQuery Plugin For Lazy Loading of Images/Videos - Lazy Load XT
A modern, fast, lightweight image lazy load JavaScript library that provides 2 methods to lazy load images with support for retina and responsive images.
3. jQuery Delayed Image Loading Plugin - lazy.js
A cross-browser jQuery plugin that loads specified images after the page load itself and speeds up your loading time through this. Images outside of the visible area will only get loaded when the user scrolls to them. This will not only increase the page loading speed, it will even decrease your traffic.
4. Lightweight & Powerful jQuery Image Lazy Load Plugin - lazyload
A simple, lightweight yet powerful jQuery plugin that provides image lazy load functionality on your web page
5. jQuery Plugin For Responsive Lazy Loader - LaziestLoader
A jQuery retina-ready and smart lazy load plugin for lazy loading appropriate images or other html elements until they become visible in the viewport. Suitable for responsive website to speed up the page load time.
Vanilla JS Lazy Loading Plugins:
Responsive Image Lazy Load JS Library – lazysizes
lazysizes is an easy yet robust JS library used to delay the loading of images (iframes, scripts, etc) until they come into view, as well as loading the appropriate sources according to the breakpoints defined in the markup to fit any screen size.
2. Performant Element lazy Load Library – Lozad
A small (569 bytes minified & gzipped), highly performant JavaScript library used to lazy load Html elements (e.g. images, iframes, backgrounds, etc.) using Intersection Observer Web API.
3. Pure JavaScript Library For Lazy Loading Images – lazyload.js
lazyload.js is a stand-alone JavaScript library for lazy loading images without any dependencies. It supports the srcset attribute and with and takes best advantage from the progressive JPEG image format.
4. Lightweight Retina Ready JS Image Lazy Load Library – Layzr.js
A lightweight yet robust JavaScript library that delays the loading of images until they’re scrolled into view.
5. Easy Image Lazy Loading with blazy.js
A lightweight & easy-to-use script to delay the load of images until they enter the viewport. Helpful to save the bandwidth and reduce the server requests.
More Resources:
Want more jQuery plugins or JavaScript libraries to create awesome lazy loading effects on the web & mobile? Check out the jQuery Lazy Loading and JavaScript Lazy Loading sections.
