HTML Images
Images can improve the design and the appearance of a web page.
Example
<img src="img.jpg" alt="Image
Name">
Example
<img src="img.jpg" alt="Image
Name">
Example
<img src="img.jpg" alt="Image
Name">
HTML Images Syntax
The HTML <img> tag
is used to embed an image in a web page.
Images are not technically inserted into a web page; images are
linked to web pages. The <img> tag
creates a holding space for the referenced image.
The <img> tag is empty, it
contains attributes only, and does not have a closing tag.
The <img> tag has two required
attributes:
- src
- Specifies the path to the image
- alt
- Specifies an alternate text for the image
Syntax
<img src="url" alt="alternatetext">
The src Attribute
The required src attribute
specifies the path (URL) to the image.
Note: When a web page loads, it is the
browser, at that moment, that gets the image from a web server and inserts it
into the page. Therefore, make sure that the image actually stays in the same
spot in relation to the web page, otherwise your visitors will get a broken
link icon. The broken link icon and the alt text
are shown if the browser cannot find the image.
Example
<img src="img.jpg" alt="Image
Name">
The alt Attribute
The required alt attribute provides
an alternate text for an image, if the user for some reason cannot view it
(because of slow connection, an error in the src attribute, or if the user uses
a screen reader).
The value of the alt attribute should
describe the image:
Example
<img src="img.jpg" alt="Name">
If a browser cannot find an image, it will display the value of
the alt attribute:
Example
<img src="gif.gif" alt="Name">
Tip: A screen reader is a software program
that reads the HTML code, and allows the user to "listen" to the
content. Screen readers are useful for people who are visually impaired or
learning disabled.
Image Size - Width and Height
You can use the style attribute to
specify the width and height of an image.
Example
<img src="img.jpg" alt="Image
Name" style="width:500px;height:600px;">
Alternatively, you can use the width and height attributes:
Example
<img src="img.jpg" alt="Image
Name" width="500" height="600">
The width and height attributes
always define the width and height of the image in pixels.
Note: Always specify the width and height of an image. If width and height are not specified, the web page might flicker while the image loads.
Width and Height, or Style?
The width, height,
and style attributes are all valid in HTML.
However, we suggest using the style attribute.
It prevents styles sheets from changing the size of images:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
img {
width: 100%;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<img src="html5.gif" alt="HTML5
Icon" width="128" height="128">
<img src="html5.gif" alt="HTML5
Icon" style="width:128px;height:128px;">
</body>
</html>
Images in Another Folder
If you have your images in a sub-folder, you must include the
folder name in the src attribute:
Example
<img src="/images/html5.gif" alt="HTML5
Icon" style="width:128px;height:128px;">
Images on Another Server/Website
Some web sites point to an image on another server.
To point to an image on another server, you must specify an
absolute (full) URL in the src attribute:
Example
<img src="url" alt="FixHub">
Notes on external images: External images
might be under copyright. If you do not get permission to use it, you may be in
violation of copyright laws. In addition, you cannot control external images;
they can suddenly be removed or changed.
Animated Images
HTML allows animated GIFs:
Example
<img src="programming.gif" alt="Computer
Man" style="width:48px;height:48px;">
Image as a Link
To use an image as a link, put the <img> tag
inside the <a> tag:
Example
<a href="default.asp">
<img src="smiley.gif" alt="HTML
tutorial" style="width:42px;height:42px;">
</a>
Image Floating
Use the CSS float property to let
the image float to the right or to the left of a text:
Example
<p><img src="smiley.gif" alt="Smiley
face" style="float:right;width:42px;height:42px;">
The image will float to the right of the text.</p>
<p><img src="smiley.gif" alt="Smiley
face" style="float:left;width:42px;height:42px;">
The image will float to the left of the text.</p>
Common Image Formats
Here are the most common image file types, which are supported in
all browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Opera):
|
Abbreviation |
File Format |
File Extension |
|
APNG |
Animated Portable Network
Graphics |
.apng |
|
GIF |
Graphics Interchange Format |
.gif |
|
ICO |
Microsoft Icon |
.ico, .cur |
|
JPEG |
Joint Photographic Expert
Group image |
.jpg, .jpeg, .jfif, .pjpeg,
.pjp |
|
PNG |
Portable Network Graphics |
.png |
|
SVG |
Scalable Vector Graphics |
.svg |
Chapter Summary
- Use
the HTML
<img>element to define an image - Use
the HTML
srcattribute to define the URL of the image - Use
the HTML
altattribute to define an alternate text for an image, if it cannot be displayed - Use
the HTML
widthandheightattributes or the CSSwidthandheightproperties to define the size of the image - Use
the CSS
floatproperty to let the image float to the left or to the right
HTML Image Tags
|
Tag |
Description |
|
<img> |
Defines an image |
|
<map> |
Defines an image map |
|
<area> |
Defines a clickable area
inside an image map |
|
<picture> |
Defines a container for
multiple image resources |
