Objective:
By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to use the <img>
tag to add images to a webpage, along with the importance of attributes like src
, alt
, width
, and height
. You will also learn how to choose the right image format and follow best practices for adding images to enhance your website.
Introduction:
Images play a crucial role in making web pages visually appealing and engaging. The <img>
tag in HTML allows you to embed images on a webpage easily. Whether you’re adding a photo, a logo, or an icon, the <img>
tag is an essential tool for displaying visual content.
What is the <img>
Tag?
The <img>
tag is used to embed images into your HTML document. It is a self-closing tag, meaning it doesn’t require a closing tag.
Syntax of the <img>
Tag:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of Image">
Let’s break this down:
- src (Source) – This attribute specifies the path or URL of the image you want to display. The
src
can either link to a local file or an external URL. - alt (Alternative Text) – The
alt
attribute provides a text description of the image. It’s important for accessibility and helps search engines understand the content of the image.
Example of Adding an Image:
<img src="https://www.example.com/image.jpg" alt="A beautiful sunset over the mountains">
In this example:
- The image is fetched from the URL
https://www.example.com/image.jpg
. - The alternative text
"A beautiful sunset over the mountains"
is displayed if the image cannot be loaded or for users relying on screen readers.
Key Attributes of the <img>
Tag:
- src (Source): This attribute is used to specify the location of the image file.
- alt (Alternative Text): A description of the image for accessibility purposes and when the image fails to load.
- width and height: You can use the
width
andheight
attributes to define the size of the image in pixels.<img src="image.jpg" alt="Beautiful Sunset" width="600" height="400">
- title: The
title
attribute provides additional information about the image that appears when you hover over the image.<img src="image.jpg" alt="Beautiful Sunset" title="A beautiful view of nature">
Image Formats:
HTML supports several image formats:
- JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) – Best for photographs and images with gradients.
- PNG (.png) – Suitable for images with transparency or logos.
- GIF (.gif) – Often used for animated images.
- SVG (.svg) – A vector image format, ideal for logos and illustrations.
Best Practices for Adding Images:
- Use Descriptive Alt Text: Always include descriptive alt text to make your site more accessible.
- Optimize Image Size: Ensure images are not too large to reduce page load times.
- Choose the Right Format: Use the correct image format based on the type of image (e.g., use PNG for transparent backgrounds, JPEG for photos).
Example of a Full Image Tag with Attributes:
<img src="https://www.example.com/sunset.jpg" alt="A beautiful sunset over the ocean" width="800" height="600" title="Sunset View">
This example shows:
- The image will be displayed with a width of 800px and height of 600px.
- The
alt
text will be shown if the image can’t be loaded. - The
title
will appear when the user hovers over the image.
Conclusion:
The <img>
tag is an essential HTML tag for embedding images into your website. Understanding its attributes, like src
, alt
, width
, and height
, will allow you to create visually engaging web pages. Additionally, following best practices for image optimization and accessibility will help ensure a better user experience.