What is Lazy Loading?
A technique that delays loading non-critical resources until they are needed, improving initial page load performance.
Lazy loading defers loading of off-screen images, videos, and code until the user scrolls near them. Native HTML supports this with loading="lazy" on img and iframe elements. JavaScript Intersection Observer API enables custom lazy loading.
Benefits include faster initial page load, reduced bandwidth usage, and lower server load. Code splitting (dynamic imports) applies lazy loading to JavaScript modules. Popular in infinite scroll implementations and image-heavy sites.