Web Performance Optimization Tips

Website performance is crucial for user experience and SEO. In this post, we'll cover essential optimization techniques.

Why Performance Matters

• Users expect websites to load in 2 seconds or less
• Every second delay can result in a 7% loss of conversions
• Google uses page speed as a ranking factor

1. Minimize HTTP Requests

Reduce the number of HTTP requests by:

• Combining CSS files
• Using CSS sprites for icons
• Lazy loading images

2. Enable Compression

Use gzip compression to reduce file sizes:

# In Nginx
gzip on;
gzip_types text/plain text/css application/json application/javascript;

3. Optimize Images

• Use modern formats like WebP
• Compress images without losing quality
• Implement responsive images with srcset

<img 
  src="image.jpg" 
  srcset="image-small.jpg 480w, image-large.jpg 1200w"
  alt="Description"
/>

4. Leverage Browser Caching

Set appropriate cache headers:

Cache-Control: public, max-age=31536000

5. Code Splitting

Split your JavaScript bundles to load only what's needed:

// Using dynamic imports
const HeavyComponent = lazy(() => import('./HeavyComponent'));

6. CDN Usage

Use a Content Delivery Network to serve static assets closer to users.

Measuring Performance

Use tools like:

• Google PageSpeed Insights
• WebPageTest
• Lighthouse
• GTmetrix

Conclusion

Performance optimization is an ongoing process. Start with the most impactful changes and monitor results using real user monitoring tools.