Load with async

[joewiz]

DAP's recommended script tag lacks an async attribute:

<!-- We participate in the US government's analytics program. See the data at analytics.usa.gov. -->
<script language="javascript" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=AGENCY" id="_fed_an_ua_tag"></script>

Is it acceptable to add this attribute? The purpose is to eliminate the hit to page load times on our site due to blocking during DNS load time. DNS lookup times for dap.digitalgov.gov are typically 30ms but we've seen them regularly hit 100ms, even 200ms.

[tdlowden]

Hi @joewiz! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We're currently working on a new code version and when we release it, we'll be changing the documentation to suggest adding the async attribute.

[line-o]

Does this mean we can use it already and the documentation is not up to date or should we wait for the new code version?

[SamBronson]

Sorry to speak out of turn, but if you are using a tag management system, like GTM, the async attribute is not necessary.

[tdlowden]

I am under the impression that our current code doesn't yet support async if using our script tag directly in html, but I'm double checking now.

[tdlowden]

@joewiz @line-o confirmed that the current version does not support the async attribute. But within a few weeks, the v3.0 code should be available, which will load asynchronously the the async attribute.

[line-o]

@tdlowden OK, thank you very much.

[joewiz]

@tdlowden Yes, thank you!

[konklone]

There's an open issue (well, PR) with some discussion of this exact issue: https://github.com/digital-analytics-program/gov-wide-code/pull/28

[tdlowden]

This option now available in v3.1! Closing... finally.

[joewiz]

Great news! We'll put it to use. Thanks for this improvement and for letting us know.

[tdlowden]

Thanks for bringing it to our attention! Sorry it took so long to get this version out.