From a front end performance point of view, which of the following lists three effective ways to reduce a web page load time for users?

Introduction / Context:
Web page load time has a direct impact on user experience and search engine rankings. Slow pages frustrate visitors and can increase bounce rates. Front end developers use a variety of techniques to reduce load time by shrinking file sizes, reducing the number of network requests, and taking advantage of browser caching and Content Delivery Networks. This question focuses on identifying three effective and commonly recommended techniques for improving page load performance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The web page includes images, Cascading Style Sheets files, JavaScript files, and other static assets.
• The goal is to reduce the time taken for the first meaningful paint and full page load.
• The developer has control over image optimisation, bundling, and cache headers.
• The options mix good practices with obviously harmful actions such as increasing file sizes or disabling caching.

Concept / Approach:
Best practices for reducing load time include compressing and resizing images, because large unoptimised images are a major cause of slow pages. Another key practice is to minify and combine Cascading Style Sheets and JavaScript files, which reduces file size and the number of HTTP requests. Finally, enabling browser caching and using a Content Delivery Network for static resources allows repeat visitors to load assets from local cache or from servers geographically closer to them. Together, these steps can significantly improve performance without changing page content or functionality.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look for an option that mentions image optimisation. Compressing and properly sizing images is always recommended. Step 2: Check whether the option also refers to minifying and combining Cascading Style Sheets or JavaScript files, which reduces network overhead. Step 3: Confirm that the option includes caching or Content Delivery Networks, which improve load times for both first time and returning visitors. Step 4: Evaluate option a, which contains all three of these techniques and no obviously harmful actions. Step 5: Compare with other options, which suggest increasing asset size, disabling caching, or loading scripts synchronously, all of which degrade performance.

Verification / Alternative check:
Performance tools such as Google Lighthouse or other page speed analysers routinely recommend optimising images, minifying resources, and leveraging browser caching. They show before and after metrics that quantify the improvement when these optimisations are applied. Real world case studies also demonstrate significant reductions in load time after implementing image compression, file bundling, and Content Delivery Networks, supporting the correctness of option a.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b proposes actions that increase load time: more large background images, disabled caching, and many external fonts. Option c removes gzip compression and uses inline styles everywhere, which can bloat HTML and prevent effective caching. Option d suggests using large uncompressed videos and synchronous loading of scripts, both of which slow down page rendering significantly.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is focusing only on server side performance while neglecting front end optimisations. Another pitfall is overusing large hero images, animations, and fonts without considering their impact on mobile users with slow networks. Good front end optimisation balances visual design with technical constraints by applying proven techniques like those in option a.

Final Answer:
Three effective ways to reduce page load time are optimising and compressing images, minimising and combining Cascading Style Sheets or JavaScript files, and enabling browser caching or using a Content Delivery Network for static assets.