Influencing Web Browser Resource Load Sequence

Question

I have a legacy site that has dozens of little images on it. In addition, a CSS sprite is used for a variety of styling components. My browsers are loading the CSS image after the slew of HTML images, so the styling is blocked by the number of pending HTTP requests. I really want the CSS to load first, as many of these HTML images area actually not displayed on page load.

Is there an effective way to cause a browser to load CSS background images before HTML images, or vice versa?

Answer 1

Is your CSS file loaded first? e.g. in your HEAD element? if so, it should queue those images before the other images in your pages.