Web performance is one of the most critical factors for a website’s success in 2025. A fast-loading site not only improves user experience but also boosts SEO rankings and conversion rates. Google’s Core Web Vitals are now a key ranking factor, so ensuring your site performs well is essential.

One of the most significant performance issues in WordPress is the number of HTTP requests. Excessive HTTP requests slow down page load times and negatively impact your Core Web Vitals. In this blog, we’ll discuss why HTTP requests matter, how to reduce them, and how to improve your Core Web Vitals in WordPress.

What Are HTTP Requests and Why Do They Matter?

An HTTP request is made every time a browser loads a new resource on a webpage, such as:

  • Images

  • CSS files

  • JavaScript files

  • Fonts

  • External resources (e.g., APIs)

The more HTTP requests a page makes, the slower it will load. High numbers of HTTP requests can lead to longer load times and lower Core Web Vitals scores, specifically affecting the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and First Input Delay (FID).

Core Web Vitals: What You Need to Know

Core Web Vitals are a set of user-centric metrics that focus on real-world experience. These include:

  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures how quickly the largest visible element (usually an image or text block) loads.

  • First Input Delay (FID): Measures how quickly a page becomes interactive after the user clicks.

  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures the visual stability of the page, ensuring content doesn’t shift unexpectedly as it loads.

How to Reduce HTTP Requests in WordPress

Reducing HTTP requests is crucial for improving site speed and Core Web Vitals. Below are the most effective strategies to minimize HTTP requests in WordPress:

1. Combine CSS and JavaScript Files

When WordPress themes or plugins load multiple CSS or JavaScript files, it generates a separate HTTP request for each file. Combining these files can significantly reduce the number of requests.

  • CSS files: Instead of loading multiple CSS files for different parts of your theme, combine them into one file.

  • JavaScript files: Merge your theme and plugin JavaScript into fewer files, but be careful not to compromise functionality.

Plugins for Combining Files:

  • Autoptimize: This plugin allows you to combine CSS and JavaScript files, minify them, and optimize HTML.

  • WP Rocket: A premium caching plugin that combines CSS and JavaScript files with various performance optimization features.

2. Use Lazy Loading for Images and Videos

Lazy loading delays the loading of images and videos until the user scrolls to the part of the page where they appear. This reduces the number of HTTP requests made when the page initially loads, improving LCP.

In WordPress, you can enable lazy loading for images and videos directly or through a plugin.

How to Enable Lazy Loading in WordPress:

  • WordPress (since version 5.5) has native lazy loading enabled by default for images. For videos, you may need to use plugins or manual code.

Plugins for Lazy Loading:

  • a3 Lazy Load: A simple plugin that enables lazy loading for images, videos, and iframes.

  • WP Rocket: Also provides an advanced lazy loading feature that reduces image loading time.

3. Optimize and Compress Images

Images are often the biggest culprits when it comes to HTTP requests. Each image added to your page requires an HTTP request to load it. Reducing image sizes and formats helps to minimize the total requests.

  • Use image formats like WebP for smaller file sizes and high-quality visuals.

  • Compress images to reduce file size without losing quality. Tools like TinyPNG and ImageOptim help reduce image sizes.

Plugins for Image Optimization:

  • Smush: A popular plugin that automatically compresses and resizes images for better performance.

  • ShortPixel: Offers lossless and lossy compression, and can convert images to WebP.

4. Reduce External HTTP Requests

External requests refer to resources that your site loads from third-party sources, such as Google Fonts, CDN-hosted files, or social media scripts. While some of these resources are essential, loading too many of them increases the number of HTTP requests.

How to Reduce External HTTP Requests:

  • Host Google Fonts locally: Instead of linking to Google Fonts, download and serve them locally.

  • Limit third-party scripts: Minimize the number of external resources like ads, social media widgets, or tracking pixels.

Plugin for Local Google Fonts:

  • Disable Google Fonts locally: This plugin allows you to host Google Fonts on your server rather than fetching them from Google.

5. Minimize and Defer JavaScript Files

Defer non-essential JavaScript files until after the page has loaded to improve FID and LCP. You can also minify JavaScript to reduce the file size, which in turn reduces the HTTP request load.

Plugins for Minifying and Deferring JavaScript:

  • Autoptimize: Minifies and defers both JavaScript and CSS to enhance performance.

  • WP Rocket: Includes advanced options for deferring JavaScript and minification.

6. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) distributes your website’s static files (images, CSS, JavaScript) across multiple servers worldwide. This reduces the time it takes for users to download content by serving files from the server closest to them.

Popular CDNs:

  • Cloudflare: A free CDN that can significantly improve the load times of your WordPress site.

  • KeyCDN: Offers a reliable CDN solution for WordPress users.

How to Improve Core Web Vitals in WordPress

While reducing HTTP requests plays a major role, there are other actions you can take to improve your Core Web Vitals:

1. Improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

  • Optimize server response times: Use fast hosting (e.g., Kinsta, SiteGround) and enable caching (e.g., with WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache).

  • Preload critical fonts and resources: Preload key resources (e.g., CSS files, fonts) to improve LCP.

2. Reduce First Input Delay (FID)

  • Optimize JavaScript execution: Minify and defer JavaScript files. Use performance plugins like Autoptimize or WP Rocket for optimizing FID.

3. Minimize Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

  • Avoid layout shifts: Always define height and width for images and iframes to prevent unexpected shifts as the page loads.

Conclusion

Reducing HTTP requests and improving Core Web Vitals are essential for ensuring that your WordPress site provides a fast, responsive, and user-friendly experience. By following the strategies outlined in this guide—combining CSS/JavaScript files, lazy loading images, hosting resources locally, and leveraging tools like CDNs and optimization plugins—you can significantly enhance your site’s performance.

A faster website leads to better user retention, improved SEO rankings, and higher conversions. Take action now and ensure that your WordPress site stays at the top of its game.