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855: Fast Websites: The New Speculation Rules API

Dec 2, 2024

Scott and Wes dive into the transformative Speculation Rules API, revealing how it can make websites lightning-fast. They explore the magic of techniques like pre-loading and prefetching, comparing them to preparing for a trip. The duo weighs the costs of these methods for both developers and users, stressing the importance of real-world performance over theoretical metrics. With captivating case studies, they highlight the synergy between caching strategies and user experience, paving the way for more responsive web applications.

24:10

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Quick takeaways

The Speculation Rules API significantly boosts website performance by allowing browsers to prefetch and preload content, anticipating user actions.

While enhancing user experience through preloading techniques, developers must carefully manage potential costs associated with server resources and bandwidth usage.

Deep dives

Understanding Speculation Rules API

The Speculation Rules API is designed to enhance the loading speed of web pages by allowing browsers to prefetch, preload, and pre-render content. This technology is aimed at anticipating user actions, enabling pages to be ready before they are needed, thus creating a faster user experience. For instance, by using a prefetch method, web applications can download the HTML of anticipated pages, making them readily available when a user clicks on links. This method significantly reduces loading time and increases site responsiveness, as evidenced by techniques employed by fast websites like McMaster Car.

Intro

4min

Optimizing Web Performance with Preload and Pre-Connect Techniques

2min

Enhancing Web Performance with Speculation Rules API

14min

Prioritizing User Experience Over Lighthouse Scores in Web Performance

2min

Enhancing Web Speed: Preloading and Local-First Techniques

2min

Scott and Wes dive into the Speculation Rules API and why it’s a game-changer for building blazing-fast websites. They break down how pre-loading, prefetching, and pre-connecting work together to boost performance while weighing the costs for both users and developers.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
00:49 Pre-loading, prefetching, and pre-connecting.
- CSS Wizardy.
- CSS Wizardy on GitHub.
02:06 Brought to you by Sentry.io.
03:16 Benefits of pre-loading, prefetching, and pre-connecting?
07:02 The Speculation Rules API.
- mdn web docs.
08:20 Isn’t that expensive?
08:53 Eagerness of the Speculation Rules API.
09:55 What is the cost for the site?
14:42 What is the cost for the user?
15:49 Next Master.
- Next Master.
18:07 The current prevalence.