Newly availableUseful in modern browsers, but confirm support before making it a core requirement.
Resource hints Newly available

<link rel="dns-prefetch">

The rel="dns-prefetch" attribute for the <link> HTML element is a hint to the browser that the page or user is likely to request resources from another domain, so the browser should preemptively resolve DNS for the href value's domain. It is most useful when native HTML semantics or browser capabilities can replace custom implementation work.

Resource hints

Overview

The rel="dns-prefetch" attribute for the <link> HTML element is a hint to the browser that the page or user is likely to request resources from another domain, so the browser should preemptively resolve DNS for the href value's domain. It is most useful when native HTML semantics or browser capabilities can replace custom implementation work.

Browser support

Feature Desktop Mobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Safari
Chrome Android
Safari iOS
html.elements.link.rel.dns-prefetch
46
79
127
5
46
26
1+Supported (version) Not supported ※Has note Sub-feature descriptions sourced from MDN Web Docs (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Notes 3 item(s)
Limitation
  • This browser only partially implements this feature
Removed
  • This feature was removed in a later browser version (127)
Implementation note
  • Only HTTP pages were supported.

Syntax

HTML 
<link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://api.example.com">
<link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://analytics.example.com">

Live demo

DNS prefetch purpose

Show how DNS prefetch resolves a hostname before the full request begins.

PreviewFullscreen

DNS prefetch vs preconnect

Contrast hostname lookup with the fuller connection warm-up of preconnect.

PreviewFullscreen

Use cases

Reserve DNS prefetch for lower-cost, lower-confidence future origins.

PreviewFullscreen

Use cases

  • Control document behavior

    Use <link rel="dns-prefetch"> to influence loading, metadata, or script behavior at the document level.

  • Tune performance strategy

    Apply <link rel="dns-prefetch"> when earlier resource hints or document settings improve startup or runtime behavior.

Cautions

  • Test <link rel="dns-prefetch"> in your target browsers and input environments before depending on it as a primary behavior.
  • Provide a fallback path or acceptable degradation strategy when support is still limited.

Accessibility

  • Make sure <link rel="dns-prefetch"> supports the intended task without making the page harder to perceive, understand, or operate.

Related links

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