What is the advantage of optimizing images before adding them to a web page?

Optimizing images before adding them to a web page provides significant benefits, primarily by ensuring reduced download time. When images are optimized, their file sizes are decreased without compromising visual quality, which is essential for web performance. Reduced file sizes lead to faster loading times for web pages, enhancing user experience and engagement. Visitors are less likely to leave a site due to slow loading speeds, which can help improve retention and overall satisfaction.

In addition to optimizing for speed, faster download times can also positively affect search engine rankings, as search engines often factor page load speed into their algorithms. This makes optimization not only a technical requirement but also a strategic advantage for digital presence.

The other choices, while they might relate to the broader context of web design, do not directly link to the primary goal of image optimization in the context of reducing the load times for a website, which is crucial for performance and user experience.