Question

Does the JavaScript below allow a webpage load quicker opposed to the a standard function or $(window).load(function(){ OR $(document).ready() if not is there a way to allow the page to load then run JavaScript ?

setTimeout(function(){
// JavaScript OR jQuery to execute
}, 5000);

Answer 1

Description

$(document).ready() Specify a function to execute when the DOM is fully loaded.

The function ensures that all html elements (DOM) is loaded. So it is not a good idea to use setTimeout because you cant know if the browser has built the DOM in this time.

You can put your JavaScriptat the end of your document to make sure the browser has built the DOM but thats not the way you should do that in case of using jQuery.

More Information

DOM means Document Object Model

The Document Object Model (DOM) is a cross-platform and language-independent convention for representing and interacting with objects in HTML, XHTML and XML documents. Aspects of the DOM (such as its "Elements") may be addressed and manipulated within the syntax of the programming language in use. The public interface of a DOM is specified in its application programming interface (API).

The following functions are the same (overloads) in jQuery.

$(function() 
{
  // DOM is loaded
});

$(document).ready(functions() {
  // DOM is loaded
});

// this is the best way if you want prevent collisions with other JavaScript librarys
jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
  // DOM is loaded
});

– jQuery Documentation – .ready()

– Wikipedia – Document Object Model