I want to preload all images on my page.
My page has some images used directly as links, i.e. as img
tags within an a
tag, as well as some images which are in the background-image
property of some spans.
What's the best way to preload them all? I notice that a lot of the preload scripts seem to assume that the images will be loaded within image tags. For example, I've implemented this script: http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/preloadimagesplus.shtml
But it doesn't make a difference on my page where certain spans when hovered over should have a new background. There's still a pause on my page when the user hovers over an element, before the right images background shows up.
Edit
I know about using sprites, my question is asking for a solution apart from sprites.