HTML preload Attribute

The preload attribute specifies if and how the author thinks that the mediafile should be loaded when the page loads."

Definition and Usage

The preload attribute specifies if and how the author thinks that the media file should be loaded when the page loads.

The preload attribute allows the author to provide a hint to the browser about what he/she thinks will lead to the best user experience. This attribute may be ignored in some instances.

Note: The preload attribute is ignored if autoplay is present.

Applies to

The preload attribute can be used on the following elements:

Elements Attribute
<audio> preload
<video> preload

Examples

Audio Example

Author thinks that the sound should NOT be loaded when the page loads:

<audio controls preload="none">
  <source src="horse.ogg" type="audio/ogg">
  <source src="horse.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
  Your browser does not support the audio element.
</audio>

Video Example

Author thinks that the video should NOT be loaded when the page loads:

<video controls preload="none">
  <source src="movie.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  <source src="movie.ogg" type="video/ogg">
  Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>

Browser Support

The preload attribute has the following browser support for each element:

Element
audio 4.0 9.0 4.0 4.0 10.5
video 4.0 Not supported 4.0 4.0 10.5