HTML Images
Images can improve the design and the appearance of a web page.
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
<img src="url" alt="alternatetext">
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.
<img src="img_chania.jpg" alt="Flowers in Chania">
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:
<img src="img_chania.jpg" alt="Flowers in Chania">
If a browser cannot find an image, it will display the value of the alt
attribute:
<img src="wrongname.gif" alt="Flowers in Chania">
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.
<img src="img_girl.jpg" alt="Girl in a jacket" style="width:500px;height:600px;">
Alternatively, you can use the width
and height
attributes:
<img src="img_girl.jpg" alt="Girl in a jacket" 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:
<!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>
Animated Images
HTML allows animated GIFs:
<img src="programming.gif" alt="Computer Man" style="width:48px;height:48px;">
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
src
attribute to define the URL of the image - Use the HTML
alt
attribute to define an alternate text for an image, if it cannot be displayed - Use the HTML
width
andheight
attributes or the CSSwidth
andheight
properties to define the size of the image - Use the CSS
float
property to let the image float to the left or to the right
Note: Loading large images takes time, and can slow down your web page. Use images carefully.