Boost site speed: Enable lazy load for WordPress comments

What is Lazy Loading?

Lazy loading is a technique that defers the loading of non-critical resources at page load time. Instead, it loads these resources at the moment they are needed. This can significantly improve performance, decrease resource consumption, and result in faster page load times. In WordPress, lazy loading can be applied to images, videos, and comments.

Why Lazy Load Comments in WordPress?

Comments can significantly affect the load time of your pages, especially if there are many comments or if they contain media elements like images and videos. By implementing lazy load for comments, you ensure that these comments only load when the user scrolls down to them, rather than loading all at once when the page loads.

Implementing Lazy Load for Comments in WordPress Using Plugins

1. Using Lazy Load for Comments Plugin

One of the simplest ways to lazy load comments in WordPress is by using the Lazy Load for Comments plugin. Here’s how you can set it up:

Step 1: Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Plugins’ > ‘Add New’ and search for “Lazy Load for Comments.”
Step 3: Install and activate the plugin.
Step 4: Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Discussion’ and scroll down to find the lazy load options.
Step 5: Configure the plugin settings according to your preference. You can choose from different load events like on scroll, on click, or using a more AJAX-based approach.

2. Using a3 Lazy Load

a3 Lazy Load is primarily known for its ability to lazy load images, but it also supports comments:

Step 1: Install the a3 Lazy Load plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
Step 2: Activate the plugin.
Step 3: Navigate to ‘a3 Lazy Load’ from the dashboard menu.
Step 4: Configure the settings and ensure the ‘Comments’ toggle is turned on.

Implementing Lazy Load for Comments with Custom Code

For those who prefer not to use a plugin, lazy loading comments can be implemented with some custom coding. This method requires editing your theme’s functions.php file.

Custom Lazy Load Script:

Step 1: Open your theme’s functions.php file.
Step 2: Add the following code to defer comment loading until a user scrolls down to the comments section:

function enable_lazy_load_comments() {
    if (is_singular() && comments_open()) {
        wp_enqueue_script('comment-lazy-load', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/comment-lazy-load.js', array('jquery'), null, true);
    }
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'enable_lazy_load_comments');

jQuery(document).ready(function($){
    var commentBox = $('#comments');
    $(window).scroll(function(){
        if ($(this).scrollTop() > (commentBox.offset().top - 800) && !commentBox.hasClass('comments-loaded')) {
            commentBox.addClass('comments-loaded');
            $.ajax({
                type: 'GET',
                url: '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php',
                data: {
                    action: 'load_comments', post_id: commentBox.data('post-id')
                },
                success: function(response) {
                    commentBox.html(response);
                    commentBox.removeAttr('data-post-id');
                }
            });
        }
    });
});

Step 3: This script checks if the comment box is in the viewport. If it is, it triggers an AJAX call to load the comments dynamically.

SEO Considerations

When implementing lazy load for comments, consider its impact on SEO:

Crawlability: Ensure search engines can still crawl your comments if they contribute valuable content to your page.
User Engagement: By improving page load times, user experience can be greatly enhanced, potentially reducing bounce rates and increasing time on site.

Best Practices

Test Thoroughly: Always test lazy loading features in a development environment before moving them to production.
Monitor Performance: Check your page load times and user engagement metrics before and after implementing lazy loading to gauge effectiveness.
Update Regularly: Keep your plugins or custom code updated to align with the latest WordPress releases and web standards.

By implementing lazy load for comments in WordPress, you can achieve a balance between user experience and resource optimization. Whether through a plugin or custom code, this approach can lead to enhanced site performance, reduced server load, and an overall smoother browsing experience for your visitors.

how to enable lazy load for comments in WordPress