ExampleHow to insert an image: | Browser Support |
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 |