New in AO 3.0 beta: preload images for better LCP

A couple of days ago while racing my bicycle and not really thinking much, the next idea for Autoptimize just came to move; add a field to the metabox to allow an image to be specified as “to be preloaded” to help with Largest Contentful Paint.

Well, this has now been committed to the beta-version in 3 guises; when image optimization or image lazyload is active, AO will look for the full <img tag and use that to create a responsive preload tag. If the preload does not match an <img tag or if those 2 optimizations are not active, AO will add a non-responsive preload.

But enough writing, why don’t you go off to download the Beta now and play with it yourself already? All feedback is welcome!

The AO metabox with the new LCP preload field.

Autoptimize enhancement: feedback wanted

screenshot of the page/ post autoptimization settingsI’m in the process of adding a per page/ post option to disable Autoptimization.
In the current state of this work in process one can disable Autoptimize entirely on a post/ page or disable just JS optimization as you can see on the screenshot.
Now my question to you, Autoptimize user, is; what other options of below list _have_ to go in that metabox taking into account the list should be between 3 and 5 items long?

  • CSS optimization (which includes Critical CSS)
  • Critical CSS usage/ Inline & defer CSS
  • HTML optimization
  • Image optimization
  • Image Lazyload
  • Google Font optimization
  • Preload (from “extra” tab)
  • Preconnect (from “extra” tab)
  • Async (from “extra” tab)