Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements vs Embed Optimizer

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.

Building new pages with Gutenberg? Explore VovaBlocks, a focused collection of native marketing and content blocks from the creator of Shortcodes Ultimate. View VovaBlocks → About Shortcodes Ultimate Shortcodes Ultimate is a WordPress shortcode plugin for adding tabs, accordions, buttons, FAQs, sliders, carousels, lightboxes, columns, boxes and other reusable content elements without coding. It is ideal for site owners who want richer content layouts and practical UI elements without switching to a full page builder. Use Shortcodes Ultimate in the Block Editor, Classic Editor, widgets and template files. Generate shortcodes visually, preview the result before inserting it, and reuse the same elements across posts, pages and existing shortcode-based content. Trusted by hundreds of thousands of WordPress sites, Shortcodes Ultimate helps you replace multiple single-purpose UI plugins with one maintained toolkit. Explore live examples What you can build With Shortcodes Ultimate, you can quickly add common WordPress content elements such as: Accordions and FAQ sections Responsive tabs CTA buttons and download buttons Boxes, notes and callouts Columns and layout helpers Sliders and carousels Lightboxes for images and custom content Post lists and dynamic content blocks Spoilers, toggles and expandable content Media embeds and visual content blocks Instead of installing a separate plugin for every small content element, Shortcodes Ultimate gives you one maintained toolkit for everyday WordPress content tasks. Works with modern and classic WordPress workflows Shortcodes Ultimate works with the Block Editor, Classic Editor, widgets and template files. You can insert shortcodes manually, use WordPress shortcode blocks or use the built-in shortcode generator to configure elements visually. This makes the plugin useful for: Site owners who want to improve content without coding Bloggers and affiliate publishers who need reusable CTA and content blocks Agencies and freelancers maintaining multiple WordPress sites Developers who want shortcode-friendly output in templates Existing sites with older content that already uses shortcodes Why use Shortcodes Ultimate? 50+ ready-to-use WordPress shortcodes Visual shortcode generator Live preview Works with the Block Editor and Classic Editor Shortcodes can be used in posts, pages, widgets and template files Responsive elements that work with your theme Built-in Custom CSS editor Developer-friendly hooks and documentation Free version available on WordPress.org Pro version available for advanced shortcodes, extra styles and premium support Why shortcodes still matter in WordPress The WordPress Block Editor is great for visual content editing, but shortcodes are still useful when you need portable, reusable content elements that work across different parts of a WordPress site. Shortcodes are especially helpful when you want to: Reuse the same content element in many posts or pages Add dynamic content inside widgets or templates Maintain older WordPress sites that already use shortcodes Work across Classic Editor and Block Editor workflows Add content elements without switching to a full page builder Keep common UI elements available through a simple text-based syntax Shortcodes Ultimate is designed for these practical workflows. It gives you a large collection of ready-made shortcodes and a visual generator, so you do not need to write shortcode syntax manually unless you want to. Free and Pro The free version of Shortcodes Ultimate includes a large collection of useful shortcodes for everyday WordPress content tasks. Shortcodes Ultimate Pro adds advanced shortcodes, additional styles, Content Slider, Pricing Table, Testimonials, Shortcode Creator, Elementor support and premium support. Compare Free and Pro Useful links Documentation Live Examples Pro features Support