JavaScript Preloading Images

Question

Can you tell me if the function I wrote below is enough to preload images in most if not all browsers commonly used today?

function preloadImage(url)
{
    var img=new Image();
    img.src=url;
}

I have an array of imageURLs that I loop and call the preloadImage function for each URL.

Answer 1

Try this I think this is better.

var images = [];
function preload() {
    for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
        images[i] = new Image();
        images[i].src = preload.arguments[i];
    }
}

//-- usage --//
preload(
    "http://domain.tld/gallery/image-001.jpg",
    "http://domain.tld/gallery/image-002.jpg",
    "http://domain.tld/gallery/image-003.jpg"
)

Source: http://perishablepress.com/3-ways-preload-images-css-javascript-ajax/

Answer 2

Here is my approach:

var preloadImages = function (srcs, imgs, callback) {
    var img;
    var remaining = srcs.length;
    for (var i = 0; i < srcs.length; i++) {
        img = new Image;
        img.onload = function () {
            --remaining;
            if (remaining <= 0) {
                callback();
            }
        };
        img.src = srcs[i];
        imgs.push(img);
    }
};

Answer 3

Yes. This should work on all major browsers.

Answer 4

I recommend you use a try/catch to prevent some possible issues:

OOP:

    var preloadImage = function (url) {
        try {
            var _img = new Image();
            _img.src = url;
        } catch (e) { }
    }

Standard:

    function preloadImage (url) {
        try {
            var _img = new Image();
            _img.src = url;
        } catch (e) { }
    }

Also, while I love DOM, old stupid browsers may have problems with you using DOM, so avoid it altogether IMHO contrary to freedev's contribution. Image() has better support in old trash browsers.

Answer 5

In my case it was useful to add a callback to your function for onload event:

function preloadImage(url, callback)
{
    var img=new Image();
    img.src=url;
    img.onload = callback;
}

And then wrap it for case of an array of urls to images to be preloaded with callback on all is done: https://jsfiddle.net/4r0Luoy7/

function preloadImages(urls, allImagesLoadedCallback){
    var loadedCounter = 0;
  var toBeLoadedNumber = urls.length;
  urls.forEach(function(url){
    preloadImage(url, function(){
        loadedCounter++;
            console.log('Number of loaded images: ' + loadedCounter);
      if(loadedCounter == toBeLoadedNumber){
        allImagesLoadedCallback();
      }
    });
  });
  function preloadImage(url, anImageLoadedCallback){
      var img = new Image();
      img.onload = anImageLoadedCallback;
      img.src = url;
  }
}

// Let's call it:
preloadImages([
    '//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Internet2.jpg',
  '//www.csee.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/www.jpg'
], function(){
    console.log('All images were loaded');
});

Answer 6

This approach is a little more elaborate. Here you store all preloaded images in a container, may be a div. And after you could show the images or move it within the DOM to the correct position.

function preloadImg(containerId, imgUrl, imageId) {
    var i = document.createElement('img'); // or new Image()
    i.id = imageId;
    i.onload = function() {
         var container = document.getElementById(containerId);
         container.appendChild(this);
    };
    i.src = imgUrl;
}

Try it here, I have also added few comments