/lazysizes

High performance lazy loader for images (responsive and normal), iframes and scripts, that detects any visibility changes triggered through user interaction, CSS or JavaScript without configuration.

Primary LanguageJavaScriptMIT LicenseMIT

#lazysizes lazysizes is a fast (jank-free) lazyloader for images (including responsive images), iframes, scripts/widgets and much more. It may become also your number one tool to integrate responsive images. Due to the fact that it can also automatically calculate the sizes attribute for your responsive images, it helps to separate layout (CSS) from content/structure (HTML) and makes integrating responsive images into any environment simply simple.

##How to

  1. Download the lazysizes.min.js script and include lazysizes in your webpage.

    <script src="lazysizes.min.js" async=""></script>
  2. lazysizes does not need any JS configuration: Add the class "lazyload" to your images/iframes in conjunction with a data-src or data-srcset attribute. Optionally you can also add a src attribute with a low quality image:

    <!-- non-responsive: -->
    <img src="low-quality-src.jpg" data-src="normal-quality-src.jpg" class="lazyload" />
    <!-- responsive example with automatic sizes calculation: -->
    <img
        data-sizes="auto"
        src="lqip-src.jpg"
        data-srcset="lqip-src.jpg 220w,
        image2.jpg 300w,
        image3.jpg 600w,
        image4.jpg 900w" class="lazyload" />
    <!-- iframe example -->
    <iframe frameborder="0" 
    	class="lazyload" 
        allowfullscreen="" 
        data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZfV-aYdU4uE">
    </iframe>

##What makes lazysizes so awesome: lazysizes is different than other lazy image loaders.

  1. Works without any configuration: The script detects any changes to the visibility of an image/iframe automatically no matter whether it becomes visible through a user scroll, a CSS animation triggered through :hover or through any kind of JS behavior (carousel, infinite scroll, AJAX)...
  2. Future-proof: It directly includes standard responsive image support (picture and srcset)
  3. Separation of concerns: For responsive image support it adds an automatic sizes calculation feature.
  4. Performance: It's based on high efficient code (runtime and memory) to work jank-free at 60fps.
  5. Extendable: It provides JS and CSS hooks to extend lazySizes with any kind of lazy loading or effects.

##Demo with code examples Can be seen here.

##About responsive image support For full cross browser responsive image support you must use a polyfill like respimage (recommended) (srcset and picture polyfill) or picturefill.

##More about the API lazysizes comes with a simple markup and JS API. Normally you will only need to use the markup API.

###Markup API Add the class lazyload to all img and iframe elements, which should be loaded lazy. Instead of a src or srcset attribute, use a data-src or data-srcset attribute:

<img data-src="image.jpg" class="lazyload" />
<!-- retina optimized image: -->
<img data-srcset="responsive-image1.jpg 1x, responsive-image2.jpg 2x" class="lazyload" />

lazysizes supports setting the sizes attribute automatically corresponding to the current size of your image. To add support for this add the value auto to the data-sizes attribute:

<img
	data-sizes="auto"
	data-srcset="responsive-image1.jpg 300w,
    responsive-image2.jpg 600w,
    responsive-image3.jpg 900w" class="lazyload" />

Important: How sizes is calculated: The automatic sizes calculation takes the width of the image and the width of its parent element and uses the largest number of those two calculated numbers. It's therefore important that all images with a data-sizes="auto" attribute are constrained in width by its parent element. Otherwise a wrong (too big) sizes attribute will be calculated.

##Recommended markup patterns For some image bots (search engines and social networks), legacy browsers (IE8) or JS disabled browsers, it is important to serve a usable src attribute:

###LQIP The LQIP pattern (low quality image placeholder): Simply add a low quality image as the src:

<!-- responsive example: -->
<img
	data-sizes="auto"
    src="lqip-src.jpg"
	data-srcset="lqip-src.jpg 220w,
    image2.jpg 300w,
    image3.jpg 600w,
    image4.jpg 900w" class="lazyload" />
    
<!-- or non-responsive: -->
<img src="lqip-src.jpg" data-src="image.jpg" class="lazyload" />

The LQIP pattern has the following advantages: The lqip-src is not hidden from the preload parser and loads very fast, which leads to an extreme fast first impression and in case of legacy / JS disabled browsers/devices or some searchengines (bots) as a good enough fallback (IE8 and Android 2 devices as also JS disabled).

###Simple pattern

In case you want to save more initial image data the LQIP pattern can't be used (an extreme fuzzy image does neither work as a good enough first impression nor as a fallback), you do use client side rendering (no preload parser advantage) or you can't even generate a LQIP src, simply add a data uri as fallback src.

<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="
	class="lazyload"
	data-srcset="image.jpg 1x, image2.jpg 2x"
    alt="my image" />

Note: In case you are using the simple markup pattern, consider to set the preloadAfterLoad to true. Otherwise you will hide below the fold images from google image search.

###The noscript pattern

In case disabled javascript is a concern you can combine the simple pattern with an image inside a noscript element.

<style>
	.no-js img.lazyload {
    	display: none;
    }
</style>

<!-- noscript pattern -->
<noscript>
	<img src="image.jpg" />
</noscript>
<img src="grey.jpg" data-src="image.jpg" class="lazyload" />
<!--<![endif]-->

Note: While the noscript and the simple pattern do save more bandwidth, they often still generate a slower perceived performance than the LQIP pattern due to the lack of the preload parser advantage.

###JS API lazysizes automatically detects new elements with the class lazyload so you won't need to call or configure anything in most situations.

####JS API - options Options can be set by declaring a global configuration option object named lazySizesConfig. This object must be defined before the lazysizes script. A basic example:

window.lazySizesConfig = {
    lazyClass: 'postbone', // use .postbone instead of .lazyload
    // preload all lazy elements in a download queue, if on desktop
    preloadAfterLoad: !(/mobi/i.test(navigator.userAgent))
};

Here the list of options:

  • lazySizesConfig.lazyClass (default: "lazyload"): Marker class for all elements which should be lazy loaded (There can be only one class. In case you need to add some other element, without the defined class, simply add it per JS: $('.lazy-others').addClass('lazyload');)
  • lazySizesConfig.preloadAfterLoad (default: false): Wether lazysizes should load all elements after the window onload event. Note: lazySizes will then still download those not-in-view images inside of a lazy queue, so that other downloads after onload are not blocked.) In case this option is false and not providing a suitable low quality image placeholder will hide below the fold images from google.
  • lazySizesConfig.addClasses (default: false): Wether lazysizes should add loading and loaded classes. This can be used to add unveil effects or to apply new styles (background-image). (see also preloadAfterLoad option).
  • lazySizesConfig.loadingClass (default: "lazyloading"): If addClasses is set to true this class will be added to img element as soon as image loading starts. Can be used to add unveil effects.
  • lazySizesConfig.loadedClass (default: "lazyloaded"): If addClasses is set to true this class will be added to any element as soon as the image is loaded or the image comes into view. Can be used to add unveil effects or to apply styles.
  • lazySizesConfig.threshold (default: 200): The threshold option expands the calculated viewport area in all directions, so that elements can be loaded before they are becoming visible. (Note: Smallest possible value is 1).
  • lazySizesConfig.onlyLargerSizes (default: true): In case a responsive image had the data-sizes="auto" attribute and the computed new size decreases, lazysizes won't normally change the sizes attribute to a lower value.
  • lazySizesConfig.clearAttr (default: false): Set this to true if you want lazysizes to remove the data- attributes after doing it's work.
  • lazySizesConfig.srcAttr (default: "data-src"): The attribute, which should be transformed to src.
  • lazySizesConfig.srcset (default: "data-srcset"): The attribute, which should be transformed to srcset.
  • lazySizesConfig.sizesAttr (default: "data-sizes"): The attribute, which should be transformed to sizes.

####JS API - events lazysizes provides two events to modify or extend the behavior of lazysizes.

  • lazybeforeunveil: This event will be fired on each lazyload element right before of the "unveil" transformation. This event can be used to extend the unveil functionality. In case the event is defaultPrevented the default transformation action will be prevented (see also the ls.unveilhooks.js plugin):
//add simple support for background images:
document.addEventListener('lazybeforeunveil', function(e){
    var bg = e.target.getAttribute('data-bg');
    if(bg){
        e.target.style.backgroundImage = bg;
        e.target.removeAttribute('data-bg');
        e.preventDefault();
    }
}, false);

The lazybeforeunveil event can also be used to add unveil effects using JS:

<style>
img.lazyload {
    opacity: 0;
}
</style>

<script>
window.lazySizesConfig = {
    preloadAfterLoad: false,
    threshold: 1
};

$(document).on('lazybeforeunveil', (function(){
	var onLoad = function(e){
		$(e.target)
			.animate({opacity: 1})
			.off('load error', onLoad)
		;

	};
	return function(e){
		if(!e.isDefaultPrevented()){
			$(e.target)
				.filter('img')
					.on('load error', onLoad)
			;
		}
	};
})());
</script>

For CSS transition/animations use the addClasses option. See also the animate.html and our no-src.html examples:

<style>
.lazyload,
.lazyloading {
	opacity: 0;
}
.lazyloaded {
	opacity: 1;
	transition: opacity 300ms;
}
</style>

<script>
window.lazySizesConfig = {
	addClasses: true
	//,preloadAfterLoad: false
	//,threshold: 1
};
</script>
  • lazybeforesizes: This event will be fired on each element with the data-sizes="auto" attribute right before the calculated sizes attribute will be set. The event.details.width property is set to the calculated width of the element and can be changed to any number. In case the event is defaultPrevented the sizes attribute won't be set.

####JS API - methods #####lazySizes.unveilLazy(DOMNode)

In case a developer wants to show an image even if it is not inside the viewport the lazySizes.unveilLazy(DOMNode) can be called:

lazySizes.unveilLazy(imgElem);

#####lazySizes.updateAllSizes()

In case one or more image elements with the attribute data-sizes="auto" have changed in size lazySizes.updateAllSizes can be called (For example to implement element queries):

lazySizes.updateAllSizes();

##Browser Support lazysizes supports the following browsers: IE9+, Firefox 21+, Chrome 27+, Safari 6.1+, iOS Safari 7.0+, Android 4.1+

##Contributing Fixes, PRs and issues are always welcome, make sure to create a new branch from the master (not the gh-pages branch), validate against JShint and test in all browsers. In case of an API/documentation change make sure to also document it here in the readme.md.

##Available plugins in this repo

###RIAS plugin The RIAS plugin plugin enables lazySizes to hook into any third party (ReSrc, Pixtulate, mobify, WURFL's Image Tailor ...) or self hosted restful responsive image service (responsive image on demand). It makes responsive images even more easier without any need for another third party script.

In general the RIaS plugin combines the simplicity of the famous Imager.js solution with the future power of native responsive images implementations.

###OPTIMUMX plugin The srcset attribute with the w descriptor and sizes attribute automatically also includes high DPI images. But each image has a different optimal pixel density, which might be lower (1.5x) than the pixel density of your device (2x or 3x). This information is unknown to the browser and therefore can't be optimized for. The lazySizes optimumx extension gives you more control to trade between perceived quality vs. perceived performance.

###unveilhooks plugin The unveilhooks plugin plugin enables lazySizes to lazyload background images, widgets/components/scripts, styles and video/audio elements.

###include plugin The include plugin plugin enables lazySizes to lazyload content, styles or AMD modules either simply postboned or conditionally (for example matching certain media queries). This extension also heavily simplifies architecture of conditional, dynamically changing responsive behavior and has an extreme great scalability.

###bgset plugin The bgset plugin allows lazyload multiple background images with different resolutions/sizes (responsive background images). In case you only need one image use the unveilhooks extension.

###print plugin The print plugin plugin enables lazySizes to unveil all elements as soon as the user starts to print. (Or set lazySizesConfig.preloadAfterLoad to true).

##Why lazysizes In the past I often struggled using lazy image loaders, because the "main check function" is called repeatedly and with a high frequency. Which makes it hard to fullfill two purposes runtime and memory efficiency. And looking into the source code of most so called lazy loaders often also unveils lazy developers...

But in a world of responsive retina optimized images on the one hand and JS widgets like carousels or tabs (a lot of initially hidden images) on the other hand lazy loading images becomes more and more important. And therefore I created this project. And in fact lazysizes is different.

Due to the fact, that it is designed to be invoked with a high frequency and therefore works highly efficient, it was possible to hook into all kind of events as also add a mutationobserver and therefore this lazyloader works as a simple drop in solution, you simply write/render your markup and no matter wether it was added by AJAX or revealed by a JS or CSS animation it will be picked up by layzsizes.

<!-- responsive example: -->
<img
	data-sizes="auto"
    src="lqip-src.jpg"
	data-srcset="lqip-src.jpg 100w,
    image2.jpg 300w,
    image3.jpg 600w,
    image4.jpg 900w" class="lazyload" />
    
<!-- or non-responsive: -->
<img src="lqip-src.jpg" data-src="image.jpg" class="lazyload" />

##Specifying image dimensions (minimizing reflows) To minimize reflows and content jumping the width and the height of an image should be specified. For "static" images this can done using either CSS or using the content attributes:

<img
	src="http://placehold.it/175x75"
    width="350"
    height="150"
	data-srcset="http://placehold.it/350x150 1x,
    http://placehold.it/700x300 2x" class="lazyload" />

For flexible responsive images CSS intrinsic ratio scaling can be used:

<style>
.ratio-container {
	position: relative;
    padding-bottom: 42.86%; /* 56.25%: 16:9 ratio */
    height: 0;
    overflow: hidden;
}
.ratio-container img,
.ratio-container video,
.ratio-container iframe {
	position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
}
</style>

<div class="ratio-container">
    <img
        src="http://placehold.it/175x75"
        data-sizes="auto"
        data-srcset="http://placehold.it/175x75 175w,
        http://placehold.it/350x150 350w,
        http://placehold.it/700x300 700w,
        http://placehold.it/1400x600 1400w" class="lazyload" />
</div>