Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for incrementally receiving and rendering content items. One example system includes a server, a user device, and a client running on the user device. The client sends a content request to the server. The client receives a response to the content request incrementally in multiple fragments. The multiple fragments constitute the entire response. The fragments include content items and metadata describing the content items, and each content item is renderable and defined by one or more data objects. The client incrementally renders the content items in the fragments in a display buffer as the fragments are received. The content items are rendered in an order determined by the metadata. The client displays all or a part of the display buffer on a display of the user device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for incrementally receiving and rendering content items. One example system includes a server, a user device, and a client running on the user device. The client sends a content request to the server. The client receives a response to the content request incrementally in multiple fragments. The multiple fragments constitute the entire response. The fragments include content items and metadata describing the content items, and each content item is renderable and defined by one or more data objects. The client incrementally renders the content items in the fragments in a display buffer as the fragments are received. The content items are rendered in an order determined by the metadata. The client displays all or a part of the display buffer on a display of the user device.