Embed Optimizer vs Linkz.ai – Automatic link previews on hover

This plugin’s purpose is to optimize the performance of embeds in WordPress, such as Tweets, YouTube videos, TikToks, and others. The current optimizations include: Lazy loading embeds just before they come into view. Adding dns-prefetch links for embeds in the initial viewport. Reserving space for embeds that resize to reduce layout shifting. Lazy loading embeds improves performance because embeds are generally very resource-intensive, so lazy loading them ensures that they don’t compete with resources when the page is loading. Lazy loading of IFRAME-based embeds is handled simply by adding the loading=lazy attribute. Lazy loading embeds that include SCRIPT tags is handled by using an Intersection Observer to watch for when the embed’s FIGURE container is going to enter the viewport, and then it dynamically inserts the SCRIPT tag. This plugin also recommends that you install and activate the Optimization Detective plugin, which unlocks several optimizations beyond just lazy loading. Without Optimization Detective, lazy loading can actually degrade performance when an embed is positioned in the initial viewport. This is because lazy loading such viewport-initial elements can degrade LCP since rendering is delayed by the logic to determine whether the element is visible. This is why WordPress Core tries its best to avoid lazy loading IMG tags which appear in the initial viewport, although the server-side heuristics aren’t perfect. This is where Optimization Detective comes in since it detects whether an embed appears in any breakpoint-specific viewports, like mobile, tablet, and desktop. (See also the Image Prioritizer plugin which extends Optimization Detective to ensure lazy loading is correctly applied based on whether an IMG is in the initial viewport.) When Optimization Detective is active, it will start keeping track of which embeds appear in the initial viewport based on actual visits to your site. With this information in hand, Embed Optimizer will then avoid lazy loading embeds which appear in the initial viewport. Furthermore, for such above-the-fold embeds Embed Optimizer will also add dns-prefetch links for resources known to be used by those embeds. For example, if a YouTube embed appears in the initial viewport, Embed Optimizer with Optimization Detective will omit loading=lazy while also adding a dns-prefetch link for https://i.ytimg.com which is the domain from which YouTube video poster images are served. Such links cause the initial-viewport embeds to load even faster. The other major feature in Embed Optimizer enabled by Optimization Detective is the reduction of layout shifts caused by embeds that resize when they load. This is seen commonly in WordPress post embeds or Tweet embeds. Embed Optimizer keeps track of the resized heights of these embeds. With these resized heights stored, Embed Optimizer sets the appropriate height on the container FIGURE element as the viewport-specific min-height so that when the embed loads it does not cause a layout shift. Since Optimization Detective relies on page visits to learn how the page is laid out, you’ll need to wait until you have visits from a mobile and desktop device to start seeing optimizations applied. Also, note that Optimization Detective does not apply optimizations by default for logged-in admin users. Please note that the optimizations are intended to apply to Embed blocks. So if you do not see optimizations applied, make sure that your embeds are not inside a Classic Block. Your site must have the REST API accessible to unauthenticated frontend visitors since this is how metrics are collected about how a page should be optimized. There are currently no settings and no user interface for this plugin since it is designed to work without any configuration.

Linkz.ai improves visitor retention on your website & blog with live link previews. Linkz.ai automatically extracts & shows linked content, e.g. videos, presentations, articles, blog posts & 1000+ web embeds within your website. 💬 Live link preview on hover As users hover over a link, a pop-up appears, offering a summary of the linked content, from articles and blog posts to videos and presentations. Keeps your audience engaged and informed in real-time. 📺 Rich link previews on click With rich link previews, when visitors click on a hyperlink, Linkz.ai will extract & show linked rich media content inside your website. Rich link previews are supported for YouTube, TikTok, Typeform, Prezi & 1000+ websites. Learn more → 📰 Article link previews on click Linkz.ai extracts & shows text content for hyperlinks pointing to third-party articles, blog posts, guides and other content. You will keep visitors on your website and save them from the tab-overload. Learn more → 📄 Integrated PDF-viewer & file-viewer Automatically transform hyperlinks to download files into immersive file previews with a file viewer integrated within your website, increasing the time spent on your site. Learn more → 📊 Link preview analytics Explore the most previewed & trending links on your website and correct broken links. More from Linkz.ai: 📱 Mobile-friendly link auto-previews 💻 Control where on a website to display live link previews 🎨 Themes 🌙 Auto light/dark mode 🛠 2-minute installation