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.
EXAMPLE:
<img src="img_chania.jpg" alt="Flowers in Chania">
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_chania.jpg" alt="Flowers in Chania">
If a browser cannot find an image, it will display the value of the alt attribute:
EXAMPLE:
<img src="wrongname.gif" alt="Flowers in Chania">
Image Size - Width and Height
You can use the style attribute to specify the width and height of an image.
EXAMPLE:
<img src="img_girl.jpg" alt="Girl in a jacket" style="width:500px;height:600px;">
Alternatively, you can use the width and height attributes:
EXAMPLE:
<img src="img_girl.jpg" alt="Girl in a jacket" width="500" height="600">
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 points to an external 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="https://www.w3schools.com/images/w3schools_green.jpg" alt="W3Schools.com">
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>