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Thought for 2 secondsThought for 2 secondsThe user is asking for the most commonly used website speed optimization techniques, aside from lazy loading which they already know. I’ll provide a list of these techniques with brief explanations in simple terms. Since the user mentioned they don’t know the other techniques, I’ll focus on providing clear, easy-to-understand descriptions.

Sure, I’d be happy to share some of the most commonly used website speed optimization techniques besides lazy loading. Here’s a list of popular methods:

1. Minification

Minification is the process of removing unnecessary characters from code without changing its functionality. This makes the file size smaller, which leads to faster loading times.

<!-- Before minification -->
<script>
function greet(name) {
    console.log("Hello, " + name + "!");
}
</script>

<!-- After minification -->
<script>function greet(n){console.log("Hello, "+n+"!")}</script>

2. Compression (Gzip)

Gzip compression reduces the size of files sent from the server to the browser. It’s like zipping files on your computer to make them smaller.

3. Caching

Caching stores copies of files so they can be served faster on repeat visits. It’s like keeping frequently used items within easy reach.

<!-- Example of browser caching instruction in .htaccess file -->
<IfModule mod_expires.c>
  ExpiresActive On
  ExpiresByType image/jpg "access plus 1 year"
  ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 1 year"
  ExpiresByType image/gif "access plus 1 year"
  ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 1 year"
  ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 1 month"
  ExpiresByType application/pdf "access plus 1 month"
  ExpiresByType text/x-javascript "access plus 1 month"
  ExpiresByType application/javascript "access plus 1 month"
  ExpiresByType application/x-shockwave-flash "access plus 1 month"
  ExpiresByType image/x-icon "access plus 1 year"
  ExpiresDefault "access plus 2 days"
</IfModule>

4. Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN distributes your content across multiple servers worldwide, so users can download from a server closer to them.

5. Image Optimization

This involves compressing images and using appropriate formats (like WebP) to reduce file sizes without significantly affecting quality.

<!-- Example of using WebP format with fallback -->
<picture>
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="An optimized image">
</picture>

6. Code Splitting

This technique involves breaking your code into smaller chunks and loading only what’s necessary for the current page.

7. Tree Shaking

Tree shaking is the process of removing unused code from your JavaScript bundles.

8. Preloading and Prefetching

Preloading loads critical resources earlier in the page lifecycle, while prefetching loads resources that might be needed for future navigations.

<!-- Preload example -->
<link rel="preload" href="critical-style.css" as="style">

<!-- Prefetch example -->
<link rel="prefetch" href="next-page.html">

9. Asynchronous Loading

This allows certain scripts to load without blocking other elements on the page.

<script async src="script.js"></script>

10. Database Optimization

For dynamic websites, optimizing database queries can significantly improve load times.

These techniques, along with lazy loading that you’re already familiar with, form the backbone of website speed optimization strategies. Each of these methods contributes to faster loading times and better user experience.