Minimize the amount of DOM Elements
DOM elements refer to the individual components of a webpage that are created and manipulated by the Document Object Model (DOM). The DOM represents the structure of an HTML or XML document as a tree-like structure, where each element in the document is a node in the tree.
DOM elements can include various types of HTML tags, such as <div>, <p>, <span>, <img>, <a>, and more. Each tag represents a different type of element with its own properties and attributes. For example, the <div> tag represents a container element, the <p> tag represents a paragraph, and the <img> tag represents an image.
DOM elements can also have child elements, creating a hierarchical structure. For instance, a <div> element can contain multiple <p> elements, and a <p> element can contain other elements like <span> or text nodes.
When a webpage is rendered in a web browser, the browser constructs the DOM based on the HTML code and uses it to display and manipulate the content of the page. Each element in the DOM tree corresponds to a visual element on the page and can be accessed, modified, or interacted with using scripting languages like JavaScript.
Optimizing the number of DOM elements can improve website performance, as excessive elements can lead to increased memory usage and slower rendering. By minimizing unnecessary elements, combining elements where possible, and following best practices, you can create a more efficient and responsive website.
To minimize the number of DOM elements when using the Elementor WordPress plugin, you can follow these guidelines:
- Use the Elementor Canvas Template: Elementor provides a canvas template that eliminates the header, footer, and sidebar, allowing you to create a page with minimal elements. This can help reduce the number of unnecessary DOM elements.
- Limit number of blog posts/products per page: Set limited posts number, use lazy load and pagination. You can also divide large pages into multiple pages.
- Utilize Elementor’s Structure Elements: Elementor offers structure elements like containers, sections and columns that allow you to create complex layouts. Instead of using multiple individual elements, try to use these structure elements to group content together. This helps reduce the overall number of elements on the page.
- Avoid Overusing Widgets: While Masterpiece addon provides a wide range of widgets to enhance your website, it’s important to use them judiciously. Every widget you add creates additional DOM elements. Only use the widgets that are necessary for your content and avoid excessive use of decorative elements.
- Optimize Background Images: Background images can contribute to the size and complexity of DOM elements. Optimize your images by compressing them without sacrificing quality. Use appropriate image sizes and formats to minimize their impact on DOM elements.
- Remove Unused Elements: Regularly review your Elementor designs and remove any unused elements or widgets. Unnecessary elements add to the DOM structure without providing any benefit to your website.
- Limit Third-Party Plugins: Be mindful of the third-party plugins you activate. Each additional script or plugin adds more DOM elements to your page. Only use the ones that are essential and optimize them for performance.
- Test and Optimize: Regularly test your pages and analyze the DOM structure. Use browser developer tools to inspect the DOM and identify any excessive elements. Optimize and refine your designs based on the analysis to minimize the number of DOM elements.
By following these guidelines, you can minimize the amount of DOM elements when using the Masterpiece addon and improve the performance of your website.