The Perplexing Placement of Tags: Before or After </body></strong></p> <p>The placement of <script> tags within an HTML document has sparked a debate among web developers. While the conventional approach is to embed them within the <head> section, some argue that placing them after the </body> tag can enhance performance. However, it begs the question: is such a departure from the norm justified?</p> <p><strong>Broken Validation and Minimal Difference</strong></p> <p>Strictly speaking, placing <script> tags outside of the <body> or <head> tags violates HTML validation rules. This displacement can also affect functionality if the script relies on manipulating the DOM before the body element has fully loaded. However, if these issues are not a concern, the performance implications of deferring script loading are minimal.</p> <p><strong>Deferred Loading and Performance Implications</strong></p> <p>Theoretically, deferring the loading of scripts until after the page has rendered can improve perceived performance by allowing the browser to focus on displaying the page content first. This approach can be particularly beneficial for bulky scripts that might otherwise block other resources from loading. However, it's worth noting that modern browsers implement asynchronous script loading techniques, partially negating the performance gains of deferred loading.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p> <p>While placing <script> tags after the </body> tag is not an egregious error, it does not confer significant performance benefits and may introduce validation issues. Generally, it is more prudent to follow the conventional practice of placing <script> tags within the <head> section, ensuring both validation compliance and predictable behavior.</p>