Mobile and accessibility

Stop scripts delaying the page appearing

Why this matters

Scripts are code that adds behaviour to a page. Some scripts in the page head make the browser wait before showing content. The head holds page settings and supporting code.

What to do

1. Review homepage features and remove scripts for tools the page no longer needs.
2. Ask your developer to use defer or async on suitable external scripts in the head. These settings let the browser continue reading the page while a script downloads. They run scripts at different times, so the choice needs testing.
3. What to tell your web developer: More than five external scripts block the homepage head. Please remove unused scripts and use defer or async where suitable, preserving any required running order. Test menus, forms and other interactive features.

How to check the fix

Run the checker again and aim for no more than five blocking scripts. Test the page's interactive features too; a smaller count does not by itself prove the page is fast.