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
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.
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.
If a browser cannot
find an image, it will display the value of the alt attribute.
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.
You can use the style attribute to specify the width and height of an image.
Alternatively, you can use the width and height attributes:
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.
The width, height and
style attributes are all valid in HTML.
However, we
suggest using the styleattribute. It prevents styles sheets
from changing the size of images:
Example:
<html>
<head>
<style>
img {
width: 100%;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<img alt="Google.jpg" width="128" height="128">
<img src="google.jpg" alt="It's google" 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:
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:
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:
Images as a Link
To use an image as a link, put the <img> tag inside the <a> tag:
Example:
<img src="mickey_mouse.gif" alt="I'm Mickey Mouse." 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:
<img src="image1.jpg" alt="Image 1" style="float:right; width:42px; height:42px;">
The image will float to the right of the text.
</p>
<p>
<img src="image2.jpg" alt="Image 2" style="float:left; width:42px; height:42px;">
The image will float to the left of the text.
</p>
Tip: To learn more about CSS Float, read our CSS Float Tutorial.
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 | .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 and height attributes or the CSS width and height 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.