What is the purpose of <link rel="preload">?

Preloading Resources in HTML

The <link rel="preload"> element is used to tell the browser to fetch a resource (like a script, stylesheet, font, or image) early, before it is actually needed. This helps improve page load performance by loading critical resources sooner.

Key Points About Preload

1
Preloading allows the browser to prioritize fetching important resources.
2
Useful for fonts, scripts, stylesheets, or images that are critical for rendering above-the-fold content.
3
Requires specifying the as attribute to indicate the type of resource (script, style, image, font, etc.).
4
Helps reduce render-blocking delays and improve perceived page speed.

Example Usage

In short: Use <link rel="preload"> to instruct the browser to fetch important resources early, improving page rendering speed and user experience.