Preloading vs Server Push
Developers should use preloading when optimizing web applications for speed, particularly for resources that are essential for above-the-fold content or critical user interactions, such as custom fonts, JavaScript bundles for initial rendering, or large images meets developers should use server push when building high-performance web applications that require fast initial page loads, especially for sites with multiple dependent resources like stylesheets and scripts. Here's our take.
Preloading
Developers should use preloading when optimizing web applications for speed, particularly for resources that are essential for above-the-fold content or critical user interactions, such as custom fonts, JavaScript bundles for initial rendering, or large images
Preloading
Nice PickDevelopers should use preloading when optimizing web applications for speed, particularly for resources that are essential for above-the-fold content or critical user interactions, such as custom fonts, JavaScript bundles for initial rendering, or large images
Pros
- +It is especially valuable in single-page applications (SPAs) and progressive web apps (PWAs) to reduce time-to-interactive and first-contentful-paint metrics, leading to better SEO rankings and user retention
- +Related to: web-performance, critical-rendering-path
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Server Push
Developers should use Server Push when building high-performance web applications that require fast initial page loads, especially for sites with multiple dependent resources like stylesheets and scripts
Pros
- +It is particularly effective in scenarios with high latency connections or when optimizing for mobile users, as it preemptively delivers assets that would otherwise block rendering
- +Related to: http-2, http-3
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Preloading if: You want it is especially valuable in single-page applications (spas) and progressive web apps (pwas) to reduce time-to-interactive and first-contentful-paint metrics, leading to better seo rankings and user retention and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Server Push if: You prioritize it is particularly effective in scenarios with high latency connections or when optimizing for mobile users, as it preemptively delivers assets that would otherwise block rendering over what Preloading offers.
Developers should use preloading when optimizing web applications for speed, particularly for resources that are essential for above-the-fold content or critical user interactions, such as custom fonts, JavaScript bundles for initial rendering, or large images
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