Vue.js and database integration causing lazy loading plugin to fail

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1

I need help getting lazy loading to work properly when pulling image data from an external database using Vue.js

I’m building a website that displays images from a database using Vue. The lazy loading library I’m using doesn’t seem to activate properly. All images load immediately when the page opens instead of loading when they come into view.

Here’s my current setup:

<img class="lazy-load" v-bind:src="record['data']['ImageField'][0]['sizes']['big']['path']" v-if="record['data']['ImageField']">

I think the issue is that I need to use data-src instead of regular src for the lazy loading to work. But when I try this approach, no images show up at all:

<img class="lazy-load" v-bind:data-src="record['data']['ImageField'][0]['sizes']['big']['path']" v-if="record['data']['ImageField']">

I’m pretty new to Vue and working with external databases. Does anyone know the right way to make lazy loading work with dynamic data binding? Thanks for any help you can give me!

2

This happens all the time with lazy loading and dynamic content. The lazy loading library initializes before your Vue component finishes rendering the database images, so it misses the new elements. I ran into this exact issue building an image gallery that pulled from a REST API. Here’s what fixed it: manually trigger the lazy loading library’s update method after your data loads. Most libraries like LazyLoad or Intersection Observer solutions have an update() or refresh() method. In your Vue component, call this update method in mounted() or after your API call finishes. Try lazyLoadInstance.update() - it’ll force the library to scan for new images with data-src attributes. You’ll keep the performance benefits and it works perfectly with dynamic content.

3

Vue’s reactive data binding fights with most lazy loading libraries. Your database images render after the lazy loader already scanned the DOM - that’s why switching to data-src breaks everything. I hit this same issue building a photo system that loaded thousands of MySQL images. Don’t just reinitialize - you need to handle the component lifecycle right. Use a computed property to track when your database records actually load, then only render images after the data arrives. This stops the lazy loader from scanning empty DOM nodes. Skip third-party plugins and use Intersection Observer API directly. It plays way better with Vue’s reactivity and you control when observers get created and destroyed. Performance is basically the same and you avoid all these compatibility headaches.

4

check if ur lazy loading lib supports Vue’s reactvity system. some older plugins dont work with v-bind at all. try vue-lazyload instead - it handles dynamic data binding way better than vanilla js solutions.

5

Had this exact problem last year rebuilding our product catalog. It’s not just about data-src vs src.

Your lazy loading plugin’s probably scanning the DOM before Vue renders your database images. When you switch to data-src, images don’t show because there’s no fallback src.

Here’s what worked for me:

<img class="lazy-load" 
     :data-src="record['data']['ImageField'][0]['sizes']['big']['path']"
     src="placeholder.jpg"
     v-if="record['data']['ImageField']">

Add a placeholder in the src attribute. Users see something while the real image loads.

Then reinitialize the lazy loader after your data arrives:

watch: {
  records: {
    handler() {
      this.$nextTick(() => {
        // Reinitialize your lazy loading library here
        yourLazyLoader.observe();
      });
    }
  }
}

Wait for Vue to finish updating the DOM with $nextTick before telling the lazy loader to look for new images.

6

totally agree, data-src can be a pain with Vue. try using v-lazy; it’s way simpler and most libs have support for vue. also, ensure your lazy load script is init’d after Vue finishes rendering the imgs.