Weekly Platform News: Improving UX on Slow Connections, a Tip for Writing Alt Text and a Polyfill for the HTML loading attribute

This week's web platform news covers optimizing user experience on slow connections, effective alt text writing, a new polyfill for the HTML loading attribute, and more.

Optimizing for Slow Connections

Algolia leverages the Network Information API (check its Chrome status page) to identify users on slow connections (approximately 9% of their user base). To maintain a positive user experience, they implement these strategies:

• Increased Request Timeouts: Dynamic timeouts prevent false positives for users with slow connections.
• User Notifications: Inform users of potential delays ("Slow connection detected. Please wait...").
• Reduced Result Sets: Fewer search results minimize response size.
• Query Debouncing: Prevent excessive queries (e.g., one query per keystroke instead of continuous queries).

Here's a code snippet demonstrating connection detection:

navigator.connection.addEventListener("change", () => {
  let rtt = navigator.connection.rtt;
  let effectiveType = navigator.connection.effectiveType;

  if (rtt > 500 || effectiveType.includes("2g")) {
    // Slow connection detected
  }
});

(via Jonas Badalic)

Alt Text: Focus on the Message

Effective alt text conveys the image's core message, not just a literal description. Prioritize the key takeaway for the user.

Example: Instead of alt="A graph showing data" use alt="Graph illustrating an 800% increase in 'Who You Gonna Call' mentions following the Ghostbusters release".

(via Caitlin Cashin)

Other Notable News

• HTML Loading Attribute Polyfill: A new polyfill for the loading attribute simplifies lazy-loading images and iframes using <picture></picture> elements. (via Maximilian Franzke)
• WeChat's Mini Programs: WeChat, a leading Chinese app, hosts over a million "mini programs" built using web technologies (primarily CSS and JavaScript). (via Thomas Steiner)
• Enhanced Speech Synthesis API: Microsoft has added 24 high-quality online voices in 21 languages to the Speech Synthesis API in the Edge preview. (via Scott Low)

For more web platform news, check out the weekly Sunday issue at webplatform.news.

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