Optimizing images in wordpress. Compression plugins

Image optimization for Wordpress. Compression and shrinking of images.

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Optimizing images and sizing them appropriately is a key activity if you want to build an excellent quality site with decent performance. The weight and size of images is also a key factor when it comes to subpage loading time. The problem for unaware wordpress users is mainly:

• uploading uncompressed photos
• uploading photos of inappropriate formats
• adding too large images to the gallery

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Table of Contents:

• photo formats and weights
• photo optimization plugins
• what to compress photos with
• lazy load in wordpress
• optimize alt, title, image file name

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Generating image formats in Wordpress

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When uploading an image to the media library, few people know that Wordpress generates additional formats automatically.

New image formats with properly implemented functionality should also be automatically substituted for the corresponding responsive page sizes. The formats for which wordpress generates new image sizes can be checked in Settings > Media.

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Is it worth it to optimize Wordpress yourself?

In the case of optimization of photos and images is a relatively simple task, you just need to know not to add photos too large and in terms of resolution to be 72dpi. In the absence of wordpress optimization of photos, such as automatic conversion to webp format, you can use online compressors for photos before adding them to wordpress media.

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See also:

• TOP 5 best Woocommerce themes
• WordPress - what it is. Guide and description of the panel
• Gutenberg WordPress editor - reviews

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What formats to use for images for wordpress?

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A common habit among wordpress beginners is to add large photos straight from the camera or from an image bank. This is based on ignorance and the belief that a large photo will look better and have higher quality.

Unfortunately, such a photo only clogs up the server and database.

Avoid adding images larger than >1Mb and wider than 1920px at 72dpi.

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What if I upload a photo above these parameters?

Everything above will not be shown to the user anyway because wordpress will generate its formats from the main photo that is uploaded to the media library.

There may also be a situation in which the dedicated container for the photo will be smaller than the photo added to it, for example: the photo on the blog will be larger than the container provided for it. In such a situation it will be dynamically adjusted to the photo i.e. reduced in size by appropriate scripts or css.

The downside of this solution is the weight of the photo, wordpress has to load the photo larger anyway which is then scaled dynamically. With several such photos uploaded above the size with additionally too much weight (uncompressed photos), the loading time of the subpage will increase significantly.

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Is your wordpress slow going? 

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See the basics of page optimization and optimizing your site in wordpress.

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