javascript - Image flickering when inserted into the DOM - Stack Overflow

I noticed that when I do something like this (with jQuery, but I don't think it matters):

$("#myDiv").html("<img src='/image.png'/> this is my image.");

The browser displays the text first, and then the image is loaded, and shifts the text to the right which creates a horrible flickering effect.

The image doesn't appear to be cached by the browser. Any idea why ? How can I avoid this phenomena when loading images into the DOM ?

I noticed that when I do something like this (with jQuery, but I don't think it matters):

$("#myDiv").html("<img src='/image.png'/> this is my image.");

The browser displays the text first, and then the image is loaded, and shifts the text to the right which creates a horrible flickering effect.

The image doesn't appear to be cached by the browser. Any idea why ? How can I avoid this phenomena when loading images into the DOM ?

• javascript
• jquery
• dom

Share Improve this question Follow asked Feb 7, 2012 at 0:21 BlacksadBlacksad 15.5k1616 gold badges7474 silver badges8181 bronze badges 2

• Flickering effect? Could you explain or demonstrate? I don't see flickering in my demo: jsfiddle/nsbmW – Šime Vidas Commented Feb 7, 2012 at 0:34
• @ŠimeVidas The flickering might appear at slow connections and large image files. – Cheery Commented Feb 7, 2012 at 0:45

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4 Answers 4

Sorted by: Reset to default 5

How can I avoid this phenomena when loading images into the DOM ? there are two major methods (may be more :))

1) Set the actual size of the img <img with='20' height='20' src='...' /> or via CSS style.

2) Use image preload and insert your code only when image is loaded

var img = new Image(); 
$(img).load(function(){  
    $("#myDiv").append($(this))
               .append(document.createTextNode("this is my image.");
    // or your way, browser should take image from cache
    $("#myDiv").append("<img src='/image.png'/> this is my image.");     
 }).attr('src', '/image.png');

ps: there is a serious bag in SO engine - code formatting does not want to bine with numbered listing. So I removed the list.

Preload the image before attaching it:

$("<img>", {
    load: function() {
        $("#myDiv").empty().append( this, "this is my image." );
    },
    src: "/image.png"
});

preload your images like this

var images = [
'/path/to/some/image1.png',
'/path/to/some/image2.png'
 ];

$(images).each(function() {
var image = $('<img />').attr('src', this);
});

Images may render a little slower that text, even if cached. If you know the dimensions of the image add height and width attributes to the image and then it won't jump around.