A method for prefetching dynamically loaded content items for display by applications executed on client computing devices, the method comprising: transmitting, by an application executing on a computing device including one or more data processors, to a server, a first request for content to display within an environment of the application, the first request for content comprising a first parameter to be used to determine a first content item for display; storing, by the computing device, in an associated memory element, the first parameter; receiving, by the computing device, the first content item; displaying, by the computing device, the first content item in a first content slot within the environment of the application executing on the computing device; retrieving, by the computing device, responsive to displaying the first content item, from the memory element, the first parameter of the first request for content; transmitting, by the computing device to the server, a follow-on request for content comprising the retrieved first parameter of the first request for content; receiving, by the computing device, a follow-on content item responsive to the follow-on request for content; storing, by the computing device, the follow-on content item in a local cache (245a, 245b, 245c) structure specific to the application; transmitting, by the computing device, a second request for content to display within the environment of the application; retrieving, by the computing device, in response to the second request, the follow-on content item from the local cache structure; and displaying, by the computing device, in response to the second request, the follow-on content item in a second content slot within the environment of the application on the computing device. transmitting, by an application executing on a computing device including one or more data processors, to a server, a first request for content to display within an environment of the application, the first request for content comprising a first parameter to be used to determine a first content item for display; storing, by the computing device, in an associated memory element, the first parameter; receiving, by the computing device, the first content item; displaying, by the computing device, the first content item in a first content slot within the environment of the application executing on the computing device; retrieving, by the computing device, responsive to displaying the first content item, from the memory element, the first parameter of the first request for content; transmitting, by the computing device to the server, a follow-on request for content comprising the retrieved first parameter of the first request for content; receiving, by the computing device, a follow-on content item responsive to the follow-on request for content; storing, by the computing device, the follow-on content item in a local cache (245a, 245b, 245c) structure specific to the application; transmitting, by the computing device, a second request for content to display within the environment of the application; retrieving, by the computing device, in response to the second request, the follow-on content item from the local cache structure; and displaying, by the computing device, in response to the second request, the follow-on content item in a second content slot within the environment of the application on the computing device.