silverstripe-framework/docs/en/04_Changelogs/4.9.0.md

# 4.9.0 (Unreleased)

## Overview

- [Features and enhancements](#features-and-enhancements)
    - [Image lazy loading](#image-lazy-loading)
    - [Other new features](#other-features)
- [Bugfixes](#bugfixes)


## Features and enhancements {#features-and-enhancements}

### Image lazy loading {#image-lazy-loading}

Silverstripe CMS now lazy loads most images by default and includes some options to opt-out of this behaviour.

Image lazy loading defers the loading of images not in the viewport to improve the initial page load performance. 
Read more about (image lazy-loading)[https://web.dev/browser-level-image-lazy-loading/].

This feature was implemented in partnership with Google.

Most images will now get the `loading="lazy"` attribute added to them.  This includes:
- images added via the HTML Editor's **insert media** button
- image DataObjects added to templates

Image HTML tags (`<img>`) added in templates will not be lazy loaded by default.

To disable lazy loading for an individual image in a template, use `$MyImage.LazyLoad(false)`.

There's some scenarios where you might not want to use the native Silverstripe CMS lazy loading. For example, you might already have a custom lazy loading implementation.

To opt out of lazy loading globally, use the following yml config:

```yml
SilverStripe\Assets\Image:
  lazy_loading_enabled: false
```

#### CMS authors

CMS authors can disable lazy loading on images added via the WYSIWYG editor in the "Edit image" panel by setting the new "Loading" field to "Eager".

### Other new features

* [Dot notation support in form fields](https://github.com/silverstripe/silverstripe-framework/pull/9192): Save directly into nested has_one relationships (see [docs](/developer_guides/forms/how_tos/handle_nested_data)).

## Bugfixes {#bugfixes}

This release includes a number of bug fixes to improve a broad range of areas. Check the change logs for full details of these fixes split by module. Thank you to the community members that helped contribute these fixes as part of the release!