Loading up CSS before the HTML

preloading CSS?

[jinzou]

I'm pretty happy with the template of my site, and even got it w3C validated, as well as the CSS. I've also tested it on the latest versions of Netscape, IE and Opera and it works great except for one tiny issue that I don't know if I could fix.

When it loads up, even on a T3 connection, for just as long as it takes to notice it (a couple of seconds or so), you see the page content come first and then the formatting next. I've tested this on two computers using different connections. I don't notice this happening with any other site.

My layout is entirely in CSS and the only thing I could think of is my gratuitous use of graphics as background-images for my divs.

Can anyone recommend a way to get the formatting to at least show up the same time as the content, or hide the content?

Thanks for any help.

[DrDoc]

Welcome to Webmaster World!

This generally happens only on sites where you use external style sheets.

Are you using the link tag or @import?

[drbrain]

Could it be the FOUC [bluerobot.com] (Flash of Unstyled Content) bug?

[Reflection]

That FOUC phenomenen is interesting, Ive never noticed it because I always have atleast one link or script tag on my pages. Good to know :)

[pageoneresults]

Are you using the link tag or @import?

I would have asked the same question as DrDoc. If you are using the @import, you will see this issue.

<added>Just read the FOUC argument that drbrain posted. That is exactly the problem.

[jinzou]

Hey, that is *exactly* what is going on. Thank you so much for that site. I've been solely using @import for all my sites and haven't noticed it anywhere else, except for this one. I'll add the 'link' tag instead.

Thanks again!