Web Site Optimization: Maximum Website Performance

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XHTML: Omit Redundant Classes and Default Attributes – trim duplicate classes and default attributes to optimize html markup code

Redundancy and repetition can be useful in mission critical and learning applications. But for web pages, browsers are smart enough to glean what you want without redundant markup. By omitting redundant classes and default attributes often inserted by overzealous WYSIWYG XHTML editors, you can streamline your CSS and XHTML and put your code on a low-character diet.

By Website Optimization on April 18, 2004

XHTML: Layer Tables and Divs – layering tables and divs speeds response times xhtml markup

Many sites use one table to layout their entire page. This technique can force the browser to render the entire table before any content displays. The trick is to break up your table into layers, like a layer cake.

By Website Optimization on April 11, 2004

XHTML: Use Structural Markup – contextual selectors descendant xhtml markup

Ah, the wonders of web standards The oft-cited separation, the lifting of your spirit knowing that you’re helping the semantic web evolve. The sheer joy of CSS. Adopting purely structural markup for your XHTML ensures a longer shelf life and faster pages. Written properly, structural markup can eliminate unnecessary classes by targeting content with CSS selectors.

By Website Optimization on April 4, 2004

Graphics: Use Weighted Optimization – regional compression for smaller photos and images

Weighted optimization or regional compression applies different degrees of compression to different areas of your image. You can use alpha masks to apply different JPEG quality and GIF/PNG lossy and dithering settings to different areas of your image. In many cases weighted optimization can squeeze more bytes out of your images destined for the Web.

By Website Optimization on March 28, 2004

Graphics: Choose the Right Image Format – jpeg gif png web image file formats

On average, images make up over 50 percent of the average web page, so it is important to minimize their impact on page speed (King 2003). Choosing the appropriate web-based format for your images is the first step towards optimized web graphics. GIFs, JPEGs, and PNGs are the formats used to display images on the Web. Each has its own strength and weaknesses.

By Website Optimization on March 19, 2004

Multimedia: Use a Stable Tripod – pro camera tripod review for sharper photos & solid video support

Ansel Adams once said that the ideal tripod “is a cubic yard of solid concrete with a 1/4″ X #20 bold head sticking out of the top.” While this certainly would give a nearly vibration-free support, for most photographers this is not a viable option. That’s where tripods come in handy.

By Website Optimization on March 5, 2004

Multimedia: Use Image Stabilization – gyro stabilizer lenses & gyroscopic stabilizer for sharper aerial photography & video cameras

Vibration is one of the photographer’s worst enemies. Slow shutter speeds and telephotos usually don’t mix well, often resulting in blurry shots. A stable tripod can help to ensure sharper photographs and videos destined for the Web. But what about situations where a tripod is not an option?

By Website Optimization on February 24, 2004

Remove Whitespace – whitespace removal optimizes html css javascript source code

You can safely remove most whitespace from your code with no change of appearance to your pages. Browsers don’t care how pretty your code it, they process the code between tags, real or implied. Formatting code with spaces, tabs, and returns makes it easy for humans to read, but slower for browsers to download.

By Website Optimization on February 10, 2004

CSS: Use Descendant Selectors – contextual selectors

Descendant selectors are an elegant way to apply styles to specific areas of your page while reducing the need to embed classes within elements. First introduced in CSS1 in 1996, descendant selectors (then called contextual selectors) match elements that are descendants of other elements in the document tree. Composed of two or more selectors separated by whitespace, descendant selectors apply styles to elements that are contained within other elements.

By Website Optimization on February 6, 2004

CSS: Use Type Selectors

By using simple, high-level selectors you can simplify your style sheets. Type selectors and the “universal” selector (*) match every instance of the element type in the document tree. You can use the pattern matching built into CSS to make your style sheets work for you.

By Website Optimization on January 28, 2004