Javascript Options

[none345678]

Is it better to have one big JS file or to link to them separately?

[Maccabee]

One big file. Fewer http requests but the difference is so small it's not worth it because you lose the organization. Also look at this this:

http://rakaz.nl/2006/12/make-your-pages-lo...-css-files.html

You'd have to weight the pros and cons though because it reduces size therefore making it load faster but it also add pressure on the server which may end up making it slower. (It probably won't unless you have a really crappy server with a heavy load already.)

Lastly, read this. Every web design should read through it.

http://developer.yahoo.com/performance/rules.html

[heyo-captain-jac...]

One big file. Fewer http requests but the difference is so small it's not worth it because you lose the organization. Also look at this this:

http://rakaz.nl/2006/12/make-your-pages-lo...-css-files.html

You'd have to weight the pros and cons though because it reduces size therefore making it load faster but it also add pressure on the server which may end up making it slower. (It probably won't unless you have a really crappy server with a heavy load already.)

Lastly, read this. Every web design should read through it.

http://developer.yahoo.com/performance/rules.html

the way I figure I figure one big file is better for smaller sites but if you've got a lot of things going on but only need a few things on the home page, one or two more on the buy page, only one thing on a comments page, etc. then it's better to go with several smaller js files. say someone wants to browse your site for something but never goes to the checkout or comments sections it doesn't make sense to send them all that code anyway.

since js files are cached anyway, it's not like the handful who actually use everything will be making all that many http requests from 10 or 12 extra files