Prefetch and preconnect hints: when they help

Short answer: `preconnect` helps early connections to critical third-party origins; `prefetch` guesses next pages—misuse wastes bandwidth.

Use hints sparingly on high-traffic templates; too many hints compete and confuse the browser.

preconnect

• Good for fonts or analytics domains that block rendering.
• Limit to a few origins—each has cost.

dns-prefetch

Cheaper than preconnect—use when full TLS early is unnecessary.

prefetch/prerender

Consider for likely next navigation (e.g., checkout) with privacy care—avoid on metered connections assumptions.

Frequently asked questions