580003 - Wait until image is loaded before rendering the alt text

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[John Wayne Hill (UX Intern)]

When we load the alt text of an image before the image is loaded we cause some problems. The content shifts around (as the image is loaded), focus is stolen away from the content as the image shifts into place, etc.

Recommendation:
1. Load the image before rendering the alt text

Comment 1

[Mike Beltzner [:beltzner, not reading bugmail]]

Hm; not sure that this is right. The alt text is valuable in cases where the image can't be loaded, isn't it?

What's the actual problem here; that we're not leaving appropriate space for images? That we're getting reflows?

Comment 2

[John Wayne Hill (UX Intern)]

Mike, you're exactly right. The alt text is very valuable in many cases. The main problem is reflows which are highly disturbing. Secondarily, when we know that we can load an image, we shouldn't be drawing the alt text first.

Comment 3

[David Balch]

I think that, as stated, this is a bad idea.

It's a usability benefit to have the alt text visible prior to image loading, as - whilst waiting for the image to load - it often tells me whether it's worth waiting for.

This is particularly true for:
 * url timeouts
 * slow connections
 * pages with lots of large images.

If reflow is the objectional aspect then perhaps, as soon as "we know that we can load an image" (whatever that means), the reflow occurs immediately, but keeping the alt text visible until the image has actually loaded.

Then again, maybe that wouldn't work so well for images smaller than the alt text, so would get overly complicated...

Comment 4

[Anne (:annevk)]

I think we've made improvements here over the intervening years, if this is still a significant problem please file a new bug.