---
name: "WML:preload"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "mp4h"
version: "1.2.4-2"
release: "Debian 3.0 (Woody)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/WML:preload"
---

# WML:preload(3)

Preload Images

## NAME

WML:preload - Preload Images

## SYNOPSIS

```
 <use WML:preload />
```

```
 <preload src="image filename" via="trick" />
```

## DESCRIPTION

This include file provides the `"<preload>"` tag which can be used to preload images. Such preloading is usually done to speedup access for following pages. Currently there are only a few tricks how this can be done.

The following combinations are currently supported:

- "src="*anyimage* `"via=size"`

  Preloads the image *anyimage* by using an `"<img>"` tag with the attributes `"width=1 height=1"` which leads to the loading of the image but only to a 1 pixel in display.

  Advantage: Works for all browsers.

  Disadvantage: This approach has the nasty side-effect of an occuring 1 pixel in display because `"width=0 height=0"` does not work as expected in most browsers (especially in Netscape 4.x). So, position your `"<preload>"` tag somewhere it does not destroy the look and feel of your page.

- "src="*anyimage* `"via=js"`

  Preloads the image *anyimage* by using a JavaScript snippet which loads the image by declaring an unused `"Image"` object.

  Advantage: Silently preloads the image without displaying anything.

  Disadvantage: Only works for browsers with a JavaScript implementation and only for those who support the `"Image"` object (currently NS/3, NS/4, IE/4).

## AUTHORS

```
 Ralf S. Engelschall
 rse@engelschall.com
 www.engelschall.com
```

```
 Denis Barbier
 barbier@imacs.polytechnique.fr
```