Exciting Update: I have discovered a simpler method to tackle this issue, tailored to your specific application needs. Instead of juggling multiple images, consider utilizing just one <img> element or Image object (possibly two for 'this' and 'next' images if animations are required) and updating properties like .src, .width, .height as needed. With this approach, you can steer clear of the 10MB cap effortlessly. For example, in a carousel scenario, start with compact placeholders to streamline implementation.
There could be a viable workaround at hand.
The essence lies in delving deep into image management and deliberately downsizing any redundant images. While traditional methods such as
document.removeChild(divMyImageContainer)
or
$("myimagecontainer").empty() aim to free up memory, they fall short on Mobile Safari due to its reluctance in deallocating memory post-removal. The answer? Optimize the image directly to minimize memory usage by modifying the
src attribute. A quick way is introducing a
data URL. For instance:
myImage.src="/path/to/image.png"
...transforms into:
myImage.src="data:image/gif;base64,AN_ENCODED_IMAGE_DATA_STRING"
A demonstration test below showcases the efficacy. Previously, my sizable 750KB image would overwhelm the browser, halting all JS operations. However, after resetting src, I successfully loaded the same image over 170 times. A detailed breakdown of the code functioning follows.
var strImagePath = "http://path/to/your/gigantic/image.jpg";
var arrImages = [];
var imgActiveImage = null
var strNullImage = "data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhEAAOALMAAOazToeHh0tLS/7LZv/0jvb29t/f3//Ub//ge8WSLf/rhf/3kdbW1mxsbP//mf///yH5BAAAAAAALAAAAAAQAA4AAARe8L1Ekyky67QZ1hLnjM5UUde0ECwLJoExKcppV0aCcGCmTIHEIUEqjgaORCMxIC6e0CcguWw6aFjsVMkkIr7g77ZKPJjPZqIyd7sJAgVGoEGv2xsBxqNgYPj/gAwXEQA7";
var intTimesViewed = 1;
var divCounter = document.createElement('h1');
document.body.appendChild(divCounter);
var shrinkImages = function() {
var imgStoredImage;
for (var i = arrImages.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
imgStoredImage = arrImages[i];
if (imgStoredImage !== imgActiveImage) {
imgStoredImage.src = strNullImage;
}
}
};
var waitAndReload = function() {
this.onload = null;
setTimeout(loadNextImage,2500);
};
var loadNextImage = function() {
var imgImage = new Image();
imgImage.onload = waitAndReload;
document.body.appendChild(imgImage);
imgImage.src = strImagePath + "?" + (Math.random() * 9007199254740992);
imgActiveImage = imgImage;
shrinkImages()
arrImages.push(imgImage);
divCounter.innerHTML = intTimesViewed++;
};
loadNextImage()
This snippet was crafted for testing purposes, necessitating adaptation for individual scenarios. Comprising three segments, the core functionality centers around
imgStoredImage.src = strNullImage;
loadNextImage() initiates loading an image and triggers shrinkImages(), binding an onload event to kickstart subsequent image loading (note: the event clearing piece is pending).
waitAndReload() introduces a delay allowing time for image rendering, crucial given Mobile Safari's slower processing of large visuals.
shrinkImages() cycles through prior images (excluding active), repurposing .src to the data url.
I opted for a placeholder image within the dataurl for illustrative purposes. For practical use, opt for a transparent gif like:
data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==