What Is Content Preloading In A CMS?
IntermediateQuick Answer
TL;DR
Content preloading fetches resources before the user explicitly requests them, creating the perception of instant page transitions. Techniques include DNS prefetching (resolving domain names early), link preloading (fetching assets the current page will need), and data prefetching (loading the next page's content while the user reads the current one). On content-heavy sites, preloading is one of the highest-leverage performance techniques available.
Key Takeaways
- DNS prefetch resolves domain names before requests are made, saving 20–120ms per lookup
- Link preload (`<link rel="preload">`) fetches critical assets before the browser discovers them
- Data prefetching loads the next page's content while the user is still on the current page
- Next.js automatically prefetches linked pages when they enter the viewport