Tag <img> HTML Reference



Example

How to insert an image:

<img src="image.png" alt="The image" height="64" width="64" />

Browser Support

Internet Explorer Firefox Opera Google Chrome Safari

1. Definition and Usage

The <img> tag defines an image in an HTML page.

The <img> tag has two required attributes: src and alt.

Note: Images are not technically inserted into an HTML page, images are linked to HTML pages. The <img> tag creates a holding space for the referenced image.

Tip: To link an image to another document, simply nest the <img> tag inside <a> tags.


2. Differences Between HTML and XHTML

In HTML the <img> tag has no end tag.

In XHTML the <img> tag must be properly closed.


3. Required Attributes

DTD indicates in which HTML 4.01/XHTML 1.0 DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.

Attribute Value Description DTD
alt text Specifies an alternate text for an image STF
src URL Specifies the URL of an image STF

4. Optional Attributes

Attribute Value Description DTD
align top
bottom
middle
left
right
Deprecated. Use styles instead.
Specifies the alignment of an image according to surrounding elements
TF
border pixels Deprecated. Use styles instead.
Specifies the width of the border around an image
TF
height pixels
%
Specifies the height of an image STF
hspace pixels Deprecated. Use styles instead.
Specifies the whitespace on left and right side of an image
TF
ismap ismap Specifies an image as a server-side image-map STF
longdesc URL Specifies the URL to a document that contains a long description of an image STF
usemap #mapname Specifies an image as a client-side image-map STF
vspace pixels Deprecated. Use styles instead.
Specifies the whitespace on top and bottom of an image
TF
width pixels
%
Specifies the width of an image STF

5. Standard Attributes

The <img> tag supports the following standard attributes:

Attribute Value Description DTD
class classname Specifies a classname for an element STF
dir rtl
ltr
Specifies the text direction for the content in an element STF
id id Specifies a unique id for an element STF
lang language_code Specifies a language code for the content in an element STF
style style_definition Specifies an inline style for an element STF
title text Specifies extra information about an element STF
xml:lang language_code Specifies a language code for the content in an element, in XHTML documents STF

6. Event Attributes

The <img> tag supports the following event attributes:

Attribute Value Description DTD
onabort script Script to be run when loading of an image is interrupted STF
onclick script Script to be run on a mouse click STF
ondblclick script Script to be run on a mouse double-click STF
onmousedown script Script to be run when mouse button is pressed STF
onmousemove script Script to be run when mouse pointer moves STF
onmouseout script Script to be run when mouse pointer moves out of an element STF
onmouseover script Script to be run when mouse pointer moves over an element STF
onmouseup script Script to be run when mouse button is released STF
onkeydown script Script to be run when a key is pressed STF
onkeypress script Script to be run when a key is pressed and released STF
onkeyup script Script to be run when a key is released STF

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