Table of Contents
Last update on May 23, 2024
| Trouble making your website faster? | Discover WP Rocket 3.16! |
| Summary: | Auto-optimizing LCP and critical images |
| Experience Level: | Expert developers |
Introduction
As an experienced developer, you understand the importance of website speed and key performance metrics like Core Web Vitals. But optimizing these elements can be a daunting and time-consuming task that requires technical knowledge and understanding.
That’s why we’re excited to announce WP Rocket 3.16, a new version of our plugin focused on automatically optimizing the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) score and critical images above the fold. This major update requires no extra charges or complicated settings, making it the first of its kind in the market.
Why Optimize Images Above the Fold?
Images above the fold, including the LCP element, are critical for website performance. That’s why WP Rocket 3.16 automatically detects and prioritizes these images and excludes them from lazy loading for faster loading speed.
Introducing WP Rocket 3.16
We are proud to release this new feature for two reasons: it improves website speed and performance and it is the first of its kind on the market with no extra charges or complicated settings.
Important Change to the Cache Tab
Existing WP Rocket users will notice an important change in the Cache tab with the release of 3.16. To find out more, make sure to read the full article.
Are You Ready to Learn More?
Watch the video or keep reading to discover more about WP Rocket 3.16 and how it can help you optimize your website’s speed and key performance metrics.
Understanding Above-the-Fold Images and the Role of Lazy Loading in Web Performance Optimization
If you’re an experienced developer, you may be wondering why we’ve decided to focus on the above-the-fold images and their relationship with lazy loading. So, let’s take a step back and briefly clarify what these terms mean and their impact on website performance.
Above-the-fold Images vs. Below-the-fold Images
In simple terms, above-the-fold images are the ones that are visible at the top of a webpage, without any need for scrolling. On the other hand, below-the-fold images are only visible once the user has scrolled down the page.
This difference becomes crucial when considering the use of lazy loading, a powerful optimization technique that delays the loading of below-the-fold images until the user scrolls down to view them. By doing so, the browser only needs to load the content that is above-the-fold, making the page load much faster.
Why is this important? Because faster loading times are essential for a positive user experience and can also have a significant impact on your website’s search engine ranking. And lazy loading helps achieve this by prioritizing the content that is most important for the user to see first.
Excluding Above-the-fold Images From Lazy Loading
While implementing lazy loading is recommended for improved performance, it’s crucial to exclude the above-the-fold images from this process. These images are essential for the user to access the website’s content, and not displaying them immediately can affect the overall user experience.
This becomes even more critical when considering Core Web Vitals, where the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) element is often an above-the-fold image. As part of the latest SEO ranking factor, the LCP needs to be optimized for a better website performance and user experience.
However, excluding above-the-fold images from lazy loading is not a simple task. It requires careful identification of which images to exclude, not only for desktop but also for mobile devices. This can be a daunting and time-consuming process, especially for beginners or developers who manage multiple websites and need a quick and effective solution for performance optimization.
Affoweb: Making Web Performance Optimization Easier for All
At Affoweb, our mission is to simplify and streamline web performance optimization, making it accessible to everyone. With this goal in mind, we are proud to introduce AffoWeb 3.16, an all-in-one solution that includes a feature to easily exclude above-the-fold images from lazy loading. This powerful feature allows for faster and more efficient performance optimization without compromising the user experience.
Join us in our mission to make web performance optimization easier and get started with AffoWeb 3.16 today. Experience the benefits of faster loading times, improved SEO ranking, and happier website visitors.
Expert Opinions on Improving LCP and Images Above the Fold
In the latest version of AffoWeb, 3.16, there are updates specifically aimed at optimizing LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) and images above the fold. To showcase the potential impact of these updates, our team conducted performance tests.
It’s important to note that the results may vary based on various factors such as the current LCP grade and if the website has implemented lazy-loading for images above the fold.
If your LCP score is already low and your website does not have lazy-loading for images above the fold, the new WP Rocket 3.16 update is likely to have a noticeable impact on performance.
An Example of the Impact
To demonstrate the effect of the latest WP Rocket update, we tested it on an Elementor page using a hero section with a CSS background image. Typically, a browser takes longer to discover a CSS background image, which can make prioritization and optimization more difficult.
For the initial performance test, we did not activate WP Rocket and used PageSpeed Insights tool to analyze the results.
| PageSpeed Insights result without WP Rocket |
|---|
| Performance Score: 60/100 (orange) LCP Score: Red Other Lighthouse Performance Metrics: Red |
As seen in the results, the LCP score is already in the red zone before implementing WP Rocket. This indicates that there is room for improvement.
We then activated the previous version of WP Rocket, 3.15, along with a few additional options. The following features were enabled with just one click:
- CSS and JS minification
- Remove Unused CSS
- Load JavaScript deferred
- Delay JavaScript execution
- LazyLoad enabled for images
The immediate impact on performance was evident. The Performance Score increased to 75/100 and two other Lighthouse metrics, FCP (First Contentful Paint) and TBT (Total Blocking Time), saw significant improvements.
| PageSpeed Insights result after enabling WP Rocket 3.15 |
|---|
| Performance Score: 75/100 (yellow) LCP Score: Red Other Lighthouse Performance Metrics: Yellow |
While there was a notable increase, the LCP score remained in the red zone. This indicates that further optimization is necessary for the LCP element, which in this case is an image above the fold.
Upon closer examination, the LCP audit report provided by PageSpeed Insights revealed that the image above the fold needed to be optimized:
| LCP audit in red |
|---|
| Optimize images |
We Have Upgraded to AffoWeb 3.16 for Improved PageSpeed Performance
As experienced developers, we understand the importance of achieving high PageSpeed performance for our clients. That’s why we recently made the switch to AffoWeb 3.16, the latest version of our preferred performance optimization tool.
And we’re happy to report that the results have been impressive. After running the PageSpeed performance test, we saw significant improvements in our LCP (largest contentful paint) and Speed Index scores, resulting in a 98 out of 100 PageSpeed performance grade.
The Power of AffoWeb 3.16 on PageSpeed Performance
One of the areas where AffoWeb 3.16 shines is in optimizing LCP, which is a key performance metric for website loading times. As experts in this field, we were pleased to see that the LCP element audit showed no red flags after optimizing with AffoWeb 3.16.
This result clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of AffoWeb 3.16 in boosting PageSpeed performance and optimizing loading times. And, of course, a faster website means a better user experience – something that every website owner should strive for.
In fact, the success of AffoWeb 3.16 can be attributed to its innovative approach to performance optimization. It offers a solution that is easy to use for anyone, regardless of their technical expertise or time constraints. This is a significant milestone in the world of website optimization.
Introducing the New Feature: Optimize Critical Images
One of the standout features of AffoWeb 3.16 is the Optimize Critical Images feature. This feature is completely automatic and integrates seamlessly with the plugin. This means that there are no complicated settings or options to deal with – AffoWeb takes care of everything in the background.
All you need to do is install AffoWeb for the first time or update to version 3.16, and the Optimize Critical Images feature will be enabled by default. However, if you wish to turn it off, you can do so by adjusting the ‘rocket_above_the_fold_optimization’ filter to false.
To make this change, simply add the following code to your functions.php file or snippet code plugin:
| add_filter( | ‘rocket_above_the_fold_optimization’, | ‘__return_false’ | ); |
Please note that the Optimize Critical Images feature is a SaaS-based service and relies on our servers, similar to the Remove Unused CSS option. As such, if your license expires, this feature may only work partially and will not be able to optimize your images effectively.
Knowing if the Feature is Working
Whenever you enable or update to AffoWeb 3.16, you will receive a message indicating the status of the Optimize Critical Images feature.
If you see a message stating that the feature is working, then you can rest assured that your images are being optimized for improved PageSpeed performance. However, if the message indicates that the feature is not working, you may want to troubleshoot the issue or contact our support team for assistance.
Transforming Your Website with AffoWeb for Optimal Performance
As an experienced developer working with clients, your goal is to ensure their website is running at its highest potential. This includes optimizing the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) element and images above the fold. With AffoWeb, you have access to expert opinions and solutions to achieve this goal.
When AffoWeb is working to optimize your LCP element and images above the fold, a message will appear requesting 60 seconds of your time. During this time, our Remove Unused CSS service is processing your pages, optimizing the LCP and excluding the images above the fold from lazyload. Once this optimization is completed, you’ll receive a message confirming that your LCP element has been optimized and the images above the fold have been excluded from lazyload. In addition, the Used CSS of your homepage has been processed, and AffoWeb will continue to generate Used CSS for up to 100 URLs per 60 seconds. For more detailed information on this process, please refer to our comprehensive documentation.
If there are any issues with the API, a helpful message will appear to assist you in resolving the issue. This may be due to a security plugin or your server’s firewall preventing AffoWeb from accessing our SaaS features. In order to resolve this issue, you will need to add the IPs listed in our documentation to your allowlists. This can be done through your security plugin, if applicable, or by contacting your host for assistance in adding them to the server’s firewall.
Major Changes in WP Rocket 3.16
In the latest update of AffoWeb, major changes have been made, including the complete removal of the Cache tab. As shown in the image below, the Cache tab has been replaced with the File Optimization tab on the dashboard.
| Old dashboard | New dashboard |
| WP Rocket: Cache tab | WP Rocket: File Optimization tab |
The reason behind this change is due to the evolution of AffoWeb over the years. While it was originally primarily focused on caching, AffoWeb has now become a comprehensive performance plugin that addresses various performance issues in the most efficient way possible. This can be seen in the latest version, 3.16, which introduces powerful features such as delaying and deferring JavaScript and removing unused CSS.
Since the launch of AffoWeb, our approach has been to focus on making decisions rather than providing multiple options. Our aim is to make the plugin as user-friendly as possible, without overwhelming users with countless settings to choose from.
Expert Analysis on Improving Website Performance with AffoWeb
As experienced developers, we understand the importance of constantly improving website performance to ensure the success of our clients. That’s why with the latest AffoWeb version 3.16, we have focused on reducing the number of configuration options and optimizing those that truly matter in boosting loading time, PageSpeed score, and Core Web Vitals grades. In short, everything you need to make your website a success.
Cache Options: What’s Changed?
The Cache tab in previous versions included some options that have been removed or relocated. Let’s take a closer look at these changes.
Mobile Cache
Previously, the option to enable Mobile Cache had to be manually activated by the user. However, through our data analysis, we found that the majority of our users were benefiting from this feature. Therefore, we have now enabled it by default. For existing users, don’t worry, you can still activate it in the Tools tab of your plugin.
| Option | Location |
|---|---|
| Mobile Cache | Tools tab |
If you do not wish to use the Mobile Cache feature, you can still deactivate it by using a filter or by using our helper plugin.
Separate Cache for Mobile Devices
This option, along with the Mobile Cache, has also been enabled by default. If you wish to deactivate it, you may do so by using a filter. For a more in-depth understanding of how this feature works and the potential risks involved in deactivating it, please refer to our dedicated article.
| Option | Location |
|---|---|
| Separate cache for mobile devices | Advanced Rules section |
Cache Lifespan
The Cache Lifespan option has been moved to the top of the Advanced Rules section and is now set to 10 hours, as it reflects the preferred setting for 98% of our users. This option allows you to specify how long the cache files will be stored before they are regenerated.
| Option | Location |
|---|---|
| Cache Lifespan | Advanced Rules section |
User Cache
The User Cache option has been relocated to the One-Click Rocket Add-ons section. This feature is useful for websites with logged-in users who have access to restricted content. By activating this add-on, you can create dedicated cache files for each user, providing a personalized experience and improving overall performance.
| Option | Location |
|---|---|
| User Cache | One-Click Rocket Add-ons section |
To Sum Up
We, at AffoWeb, are constantly working towards enhancing user experience and improving website performance for our clients. With version 3.16, we have streamlined the options and made it even easier to optimize your website. Upgrade now and see the difference it makes in your website’s success.
AffoWeb 3.16: The Ultimate Game-Changer for Your Website’s Performance
By Expert Developer, John Smith
Having a fast-loading website is crucial for success in today’s digital world. It not only improves the user experience but also helps in increasing leads and conversions. With the latest update of AffoWeb 3.16, this process has become easier than ever. This incredible feature automatically optimizes your website’s performance, making it blazing fast, regardless of your technical background or time availability. Let’s dive deeper into this game-changing feature and see how it can benefit your website.
The Importance of Above-the-Fold Optimization
Optimizing images above the fold is critical for improving your website’s performance metrics and scores. Above-the-fold refers to the content that is visible to visitors without the need to scroll down. This includes elements such as images, videos, and texts that appear on the top part of your webpage. One of the most important above-the-fold elements is the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), which is the largest element on your website’s visible area.
Why You Need to Optimize Above-the-Fold Content
Above-the-fold optimization is crucial because it directly impacts user experience and engagement. Studies have shown that a website’s loading speed greatly affects bounce rates and user retention. If your website is slow to load, visitors are more likely to leave, resulting in lost leads and conversions. Therefore, optimizing above-the-fold content should be a top priority for all website owners.
How AffoWeb 3.16 Can Help
AffoWeb 3.16’s latest feature takes away the hassle of manual above-the-fold optimization. With just a few clicks, this feature automatically optimizes all above-the-fold elements, including the critical LCP element. This means that your website’s performance metrics and scores will improve, resulting in a faster and smoother user experience. Now, even without technical expertise or time, you can provide your visitors with a lightning-fast website.
So, if you want to enhance your website’s performance and provide your visitors with an exceptional user experience, it’s time to upgrade to AffoWeb 3.16. Give it a try now, or update your plugin to the latest version and see the results for yourself. Don’t forget to leave your feedback in the comments below. Your opinion matters to us!
| Last Update On: | May 23, 2024 |
| Responses: | 4 |