2 responses to “In React, how do I stop minor layout shifts during image loading?”

1. Layout shifts in React applications, particularly when images load, can be frustrating for users and can negatively impact the overall user experience and perceived performance of your site. To effectively prevent these layout shifts, consider employing the following strategies:

   1. Set Explicit Width and Height for Images

   One primary reason for layout shifts is that the browser doesn’t know the size of an image until it begins to load. By providing explicit width and height attributes (in pixels or aspect ratio), you allow the browser to allocate the required space in the layout beforehand.

   jsx
<img
src="image-url.jpg"
alt="Description"
width="300"
height="200"
loading="lazy"
/>

   2. Use CSS Aspect Ratios

   If you’re managing responsive images or varying sizes, CSS provides a helpful way to maintain the aspect ratio and prevent shifts. Using a container element with a set height or a padding-top of a percentage can help maintain dimensions. Here’s an example using a wrapper with padding to preserve the aspect ratio:

   “`jsx

   

   “`

   3. Leverage responsive srcset and sizes Attributes

   For responsive images, utilize the srcset and sizes attributes to load the appropriate image based on the viewport. By doing this, users will see the correctly sized image without unnecessary layout shifts.

   jsx
<img
srcSet="
image-small.jpg 600w,
image-medium.jpg 1200w,
image-large.jpg 1800w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw,
(max-width: 1200px) 50vw,
33vw"
src="image-medium.jpg"
alt="Description"
/>

   4. Use a Placeholder Image or a Low-Quality Image Placeholder (LQIP)

   Consider showing a low-resolution placeholder or a blurred version while the main image loads. This can reduce the perceived loading time and keep the layout stable until the main image is fully loaded.

   “`jsx
   const ImageComponent = ({ src, alt }) => {
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = React.useState(true);

   return (

   {isLoading &&
   
   }
   setIsLoading(false)}
   style={{ display: isLoading ? ‘none’ : ‘block’, width: ‘100%’, height: ‘auto’ }}
   />

   );
   };
   “`

   5. Leverage Modern Image Formats

   Utilize modern image formats like WebP or AVIF when possible, which often provide better compression without sacrificing quality. This can help with both the loading speed and the overall experience, potentially reducing shifts when images start to load.

   6. Optimize Image Loading Strategies

   Consider lazy loading images that are outside the viewport using the loading="lazy" attribute. This can improve initial load performance and reduce layout shifts. Just be cautious where you place lazy-loaded images to avoid unexpected shifts when they come into view.

   Conclusion

   By implementing these strategies, you can greatly reduce or even eliminate layout shifts caused by image loading in your React applications. This not only enhances user experience but also positively impacts your Core Web Vitals scores, which are increasingly important for SEO. Regularly audit your images and consider performance as a core aspect of your development workflow to ensure a smooth and visually stable interface.

   Reply

2. Great post! Addressing layout shifts is indeed crucial for enhancing user experience, and you’ve covered some essential strategies. I’d like to add to your discussion by emphasizing the importance of considering image formats and optimization alongside the techniques you’ve mentioned.

   Using modern image formats like WebP can further reduce loading times without compromising quality, contributing to a smoother experience. Additionally, optimizing images for the web (e.g., compressing file sizes without losing quality) can help ensure that they load quickly, minimizing the risk of layout shifts.

   Another valuable approach is to implement the `loading=”lazy”` attribute on the `` tag. This not only works in tandem with your aforementioned strategies but also plays a part in performance optimization. It makes sure that images outside of the viewport are only loaded when they’re about to come into view, keeping your initial page load faster.

   Lastly, don’t forget to test your site’s performance using tools like Google Lighthouse or WebPageTest. They can provide insights into how effectively your strategies are working and suggest areas for further improvement. Balancing image dimensions, formats, and loading techniques can create a significantly polished and professional user experience. Happy coding to everyone!

   Reply