Ajax loading in version 7.0

Learn how Ajax loading works on some version 7.0 templates.

Last updated September 18, 2024

In some version 7.0 templates, Ajax (asynchronous JavaScript and XML) makes page loading appear quicker and more seamless when navigating from one page to another. Ajax is a type of asynchronous loading (or "lazy loading") and is most beneficial for content-heavy pages, like blog pages and gallery pages.

If your template uses Ajax loading, some elements, such as the header and footer, won’t need to load each time you visit a page. Since those elements are already loaded, the rest of the page's content loads faster.

For example, when you open a blog page, since the header and footer stay the same, your blog posts appear more quickly to your visitors.

Accessing this feature

Ajax is a feature in some version 7.0 templates. Although version 7.1 doesn't have Ajax loading, all version 7.1 sites are designed to optimize loading times.

Supported templates

Ajax is supported in these version 7.0 template families:

  • Brine
  • Farro
  • Skye - Blog landing page only
  • Tremont
  • York

Enable or disable Ajax

Ajax is enabled by default for visitors. To create a seamless browsing experience, we recommend keeping Ajax loading enabled if your template supports it.

Occasionally, Ajax may conflict with embedded custom code, code-based customizations, anchor links, and URL redirects. Ajax can also interfere with site analytics, logging hits on the first page only.

You can disable Ajax in site styles, with some exceptions:

  • Ajax can't be disabled in the Skye family.
  • Ajax can't be disabled on the blog landing page for the Farro family. If you uncheck Enable Ajax loading, your site will still use Ajax to load the blog page.

To enable or disable Ajax:

  1. Open the Site styles panel.
  2. Search for the Enable Ajax loading tweak.
  3. Check or uncheck Enable Ajax loading.

Keep in mind, Ajax is always disabled for contributors who are logged in to ensure a functional editing experience.

Loading bar

Several templates that support Ajax also have a loading bar feature. Depending on your settings, the loading bar appears at the top, letting visitors know more content is loading.

Loading bars appear in these template families:

  • Brine
  • Farro

To hide the bar:

  1. Open the Site styles panel.
  2. Scroll down to Site: loading.
  3. Uncheck Show loading bar.

Alternatively, use the Width and Color tweaks in that same section to adjust the bar’s style.

loading-bar.gif
Footer Image
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Ajax loading in version 7.0