A few weeks ago Google started including Instant Previews in their Google Instant SERPs. For this Google uses the same trick they’ve been using on YouTube results in the SERPs, presenting the images with Base64 encoding. The main purpose for Google is to reduce the number of HTTP request to their servers. If every SERP would require 10 additional images to be loaded it would most definitely impact the ‘perceptual speed’ at which the website is loaded. With Base64 encoding image data can be send inline and it wouldn’t require additional HTTP requests, just some extra milliseconds for sending this data. Continue reading “How to Base64 encode your images”
Ramblings of a mild-mannered software engineer