How to Block Rendering of JavaScript on WordPress Until After the Page Loads Without a Plugin?

As a WordPress developer, you may come across situations where you need to block the rendering of JavaScript until after the page loads. This can be useful for improving website performance and user experience. In this article, we will discuss how to achieve this without using a plugin.

Step 1: Enqueue JavaScript Files in WordPress

The first step is to enqueue your JavaScript files in WordPress. This can be done by adding the following code to your functions.php file:

function my_scripts() {
    wp_enqueue_script( 'my-script', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/my-script.js', array(), '1.0.0', true );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_scripts' );

In this example, we are enqueuing a script called “my-script.js” located in the “js” folder of our theme. The “true” parameter at the end of the wp_enqueue_script function tells WordPress to load the script in the footer of the page.

Step 2: Wrap JavaScript Code in a Function

Next, we need to wrap our JavaScript code in a function. This function will be called after the page has finished loading. Here is an example:

function my_script_function() {
    // Your JavaScript code goes here
}

Step 3: Add Function to wp_footer Hook

Finally, we need to add our function to the wp_footer hook. This hook is called just before the closing tag of the page. Here is the code to add to your functions.php file:

function my_footer_scripts() {
    ?>
    <script>
        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
            my_script_function();
        });
    </script>
    <?php
}
add_action( 'wp_footer', 'my_footer_scripts' );

In this example, we are using jQuery to call our function after the page has finished loading. The my_script_function() function will contain your JavaScript code.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can block the rendering of JavaScript on WordPress until after the page loads without using a plugin. This can help improve website performance and user experience. Remember to always test your code thoroughly before implementing it on a live website.