Lazy loading images is standard practice, but it often backfires on your most important asset: the hero image. By default, browsers prioritise loading elements that appear early in the viewport. If you apply 'lazy' loading to your site’s header or primary banner, you effectively instruct the browser to wait until it has finished parsing the rest of the page before fetching your most valuable visual. This creates a jarring layout shift and harms your Largest Contentful Paint score, a key metric Google uses to measure real-world user experience.
For above-the-fold content, use 'eager' loading or a priority fetch hint instead. Performance optimisation isn't just about shaving off milliseconds; it’s about understanding exactly what your browser is prioritising and why. Check your hero image code today, it’s often the easiest win for your Core Web Vitals.
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