Should I put my plugin javascript inline?

Question

I have a small bit of (localised) Javascript bundled with a plugin. Currently it's in a non-minified .js file, called at via enqueue_scripts.

Given that this script will likely run on every page, should I minify it or output it so it's inline in the page?

interesting question, but it is not related to wordpress. – Mark Kaplun Dec 17 '13 at 13:58 — Mark Kaplun, Dec 17 '13 at 13:58

Gaffen · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-17 13:53:50Z

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If you minify it you'll be able to reap the advantage of caching the file.

If you inline it, the browser will have to download the script every time it accesses a page with your plugin on it.

I'd minify it.

answered Dec 17 '13 at 13:53

Gaffen

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there are no advantages to catching the file if users only view one page of the site and then leave it. If you inline it you save an http request. – Mark Kaplun Dec 17 '13 at 14:00
I had thought about this but not really considered it seriously. This answer has a fairly detailed breakdown of how large the file needs to get before inlining starts harming performance: stackoverflow.com/questions/5987031/… (approx 62.5 KB) That answer ends up essentially saying 'it depends', but my gut would go with the http request as I'd consider repeat visitors a higher priority. – Gaffen Dec 17 '13 at 14:12
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The chances for a file from a small site not to be purged before a second visit to the site is close to 0. The real use case is when the reader is expected to read another page at the same browsing session. I think "it depends" is the only possible answer. Personally I usually avoid inlining but that is because of code esthetics and not because of performance. – Mark Kaplun Dec 17 '13 at 16:34

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