DEV Community

Cover image for When to use async and defer attributes in a script tag and why it is important
Yogesh Chavan
Yogesh Chavan

Posted on • Updated on

When to use async and defer attributes in a script tag and why it is important

#html #javascript #codenewbie

Do you know the importance of defer and async attributes in the script tag?

When we load any webpage in the browser, the browser generates a DOM(Document Object Model) by parsing the document.

When there is no attribute(defer or async) to the script tag like this:

<script src="index.js"></script>
<script src="script.js"></script>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

then all the scripts are downloaded and executed one after the other simultaneously.

So it will block the parsing of the document until all the scripts are downloaded and executed and therefore it will take some time to load the page completely.

Therefore it's a common practice to add all the scripts before the end of the body tag so the browser will generate the DOM first and then all the scripts will be executed like this:

<body>
 .
 .
 .
<script src="index.js"></script>
<script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Using defer and async

When we add the defer attribute to the script tag, the browser will download all the scripts included in the page but will not execute it until the DOM is created.

So we can place all the scripts in the head tag with defer attribute and is an alternative option rather than placing all the scripts before the end of the body tag.

Scripts with defer added will execute in order.

The async attribute works the same as the default behaviour of script tag when there is no defer or async attribute specified like this:

<script src="index.js"></script>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

This means it will stop the parsing of the document until all the scripts are downloaded and executed.

But the difference between async and defer is that async scripts will not execute in order so If we have 4 scripts included, any script will be executed at any time but that's not the case with defer.

So when the scripts are not dependent on each other we should use the async attribute.

Knowing when to use defer and async is important because even if you have not used it, it is a famous question in an interview.

Conclusion

  • async or defer attributes can be added to the script tag depending on the requirement
  • adding defer attribute will make sure that all the scripts are downloaded but will not be executed until the DOM is ready
  • adding async attribute is preferred when the scripts included in the page are not dependent on each other

Due to many requests for the discount, the Christmas sale of 30% off for Mastering Modern JavaScript book is extended till 31st December. So don't miss this last opportunity.

Check out the preview contents of the book here.

Top comments (3)

Collapse
 
rohan2734 profile image
rohan2734 • • Edited

I have read the whole blog, but you have not mentioned how to add a async or defer attrubute to a script tag..
Do we need to add it like this?

<script src="index.js" async ></script>
<script src="index.js" async ></script>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

or

<script src="index.js" defer></script>
<script src="index.js" defer></script>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode
Collapse
 
myogeshchavan97 profile image
Yogesh Chavan • • Edited

Hi Rohan, It depends on what you want to achieve.

  • If your scripts are not dependent on each other then you can place them before the end of body tag and mark them as async like this: 
<body>
.
.
.
<script src="index.js" async></script>
<script src="script.js" async></script>
</body>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode
  • If you want to include the scripts in the head tag and the order of scripts is important then mark then as defer like this: 
<head>
.
.
<script src="index.js" defer></script>
<script src="script.js" defer></script>
</head>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

I hope this clears your doubt now 🙂

Collapse
 
rohan2734 profile image
rohan2734 •

ya thankyou sir.

Read next

fabrikapp profile image

Mastering Next.js 13/14 - Fundamentals

Fabrikapp -

lamnhan profile image

I've created yet another JavaScript framework

Nhan Lam -

rachelfazio profile image

Living The Dream With AI: CodeNewbie Podcast

Rachel Fazio -

herrington_darkholme profile image

Explore useEffect Alternatives: Beyond the Well-Trodden Paths

Herrington Darkholme -