McMaster-Carr: The Website That Pretends Not to Care About Speed

McMaster-Carr’s website feels like a time capsule from the early web. But here’s the trick: that “we don’t care about speed” look? It’s a calculated move. Beneath the dated design are clever optimizations that make it faster than most modern websites.

Tricks They Don’t Talk About 🕵️‍♂️

1. Server Rendering

Everything is served as plain HTML, straight from the server. It’s simple, reliable, and fast.

2. Link Prefetching

Hover over a link, and the site quietly preloads the next page. By the time you click, it’s already there. You barely notice it, and that’s the point.

3. Caching Like a Pro

The site aggressively caches content and uses CDNs to deliver it quickly. They won’t tell you this, but it’s why everything feels instant.

4. Image Sprites

Instead of loading multiple images, they bundle them into one sprite file. Fewer requests, faster loading.

5. Critical CSS

Key styles are loaded inline to avoid delays, giving the illusion of a fully loaded page even before it’s finished.

6. Selective JavaScript

Only the bare minimum JavaScript is loaded. No unnecessary clutter.

What We Can Learn

1. Simplicity Wins
   The fastest websites aren’t necessarily the flashiest.

2. Old Tech Can Shine
   Optimized legacy systems can outperform modern frameworks.

3. Users Want Speed
   A functional, fast site beats a fancy, slow one.

McMaster-Carr plays it cool, but their performance game is sharp. They’ve nailed the art of pretending not to care while obsessing over the details. Respect.