Google PageSpeed Accelerator

What this solution does

The module optimizes website performance in the browser, accelerating page loads while reducing the burden on client devices and the server. This ensures faster content rendering, transmits only necessary data, and improves Google Pagespeed scores.

Features are accessible via simple settings:

- Lazy loading for images and background images.

- Lazy loading for video frames (YouTube, Vimeo).

- Lazy loading for JavaScript methods.

- Moving stylesheet files to the end of the document with activation of smooth document appearance.

- Management of high-priority styles and push technologies.

- Switching Yandex.Metrica and Google Tag Manager code to local storage and local startup.

- Font conversion and deferred initialization.

Module settings allow selecting subdomains for optimization application and defining exclusions for sections or URLs by mask.

Configure user groups for which the acceleration mechanism is activated.

Principles of operation:

Performance analysis is based on the Google PageSpeed methodology. The service identifies bottlenecks and provides clear recommendations aimed at improving user experience and service quality for site visitors.

The module does not replace standard optimization mechanisms but complements them:

- merging CSS and JS files;

- loading minified versions of CSS and JS;

- moving all JavaScript to the end of the page.

It is recommended to use these standard mechanisms in conjunction with the module.

Limitations:

Some Google PageSpeed tests exceed the module's capabilities and require additional actions. For example, the recommendation to 'Use modern image formats' (Serve images in next-gen formats) implies creating a library of images in various formats (such as WebP) for browsers that support their display.

The module analyzes Google PageSpeed recommendations to identify key optimization issues. The 'Efficiently encode images' recommendation points to excessive file weights, a problem typically resolved by compression using external services or graphic editors.

The 'Avoid an excessive DOM size' issue stems from complex HTML tag structures and requires template optimization; the module offers a partial solution via its built-in lazy loading mechanism for JavaScript functions.

Removing unused CSS currently requires manual data collection and cleanup, though a mechanism for automating code cleaning and file replacement has been developed and is preparing for deployment.

JavaScript minification is often addressed by activating options in the 'CSS Optimization' section of the main module, but complex or legacy projects may still require manual intervention.

Test results may vary depending on server configuration, including response time and static file caching parameters.

If “Google PageSpeed Accelerator” is required, General iT can help with installation, configuration and a technical check after integration.