Learn SQL

HTML <frame> Tag: Usage, Attributes, and Practical Examples

By Cristian G. Guasch •  Updated: 09/25/23 •  10 min read

Delving into the world of HTML, there’s one element that often stumps beginners: the <frame> tag. This little-known tag can be a powerful tool in your web development arsenal if used correctly. It allows you to split your browser window into separate sections, each capable of loading its own independent HTML document. That’s right – multiple pages on one screen!

Let me give you some context. Imagine you’re building a website and want to keep certain elements like navigation bars or headers consistent across all pages. Instead of copying and pasting these elements onto every page (which is not only time-consuming but also makes updates a nightmare), you could use the <frame> tag to maintain these elements in their own individual frames.

However, it’s crucial to note that while the <frame> tag can be incredibly useful, it isn’t without its downsides. One major drawback is that it isn’t supported in HTML5, which means modern browsers may not render your frames as intended. Despite this limitation, understanding how <frame> works can still offer valuable insights into web development fundamentals.

Dipping into the world of HTML, it’s easy to notice that there are myriad tags available for use. One such tag is the <frame> tag. This particular piece of code has a specific role in web development – creating frames within an HTML document. It’s worthy to note, though, this tag isn’t supported in HTML5, hence it’s primarily used with older versions.

Let me illustrate its basic usage with an example:

<frameset rows="50%,50%">
  <frame src="frame_a.html">
  <frame src="frame_b.html">
</frameset>

In this snippet, we’re using the <frameset> and <frame> tags together which is a common practice. The rows attribute in the <frameset> tag divides our page into two horizontal frames each occupying 50% of the window height. The <frame> tags then load different HTML documents (frame_a.html and frame_b.html) into these divisions.

There are several attributes you can associate with the <frame> tag that can spice up your webpage design. Some commonly used ones include:

But beware! There are some pitfalls you might encounter when using frames:

  1. Search engines may have difficulties parsing framed content correctly.
  2. Users might find navigating framed sites confusing as each frame has its own history stack.
  3. Accessibility could be an issue as screen readers often struggle with frames.

So while tempting due to their layout capabilities, consider these limitations before opting for frames in your web design journey!

Key Attributes of the HTML <frame> Tag

Dipping into the world of web development, you’ll find HTML tags as essential building blocks. Today, let’s talk about one such tag – the HTML <frame> tag. Although not supported in HTML5 and generally discouraged because it can lead to confusing navigation structures, it’s still worth understanding for legacy projects or just general knowledge.

The <frame> tag has a few key attributes that are worth noting:

<frameset rows="50%,50%">
  <frame src="page1.html">
  <frame src="page2.html">
</frameset>

In this snippet, we’ve got two frames each taking up 50% of their parent container’s vertical space. ‘Page1’ is displayed in one frame and ‘Page2’ in another.

<a href="page3.html" target="myFrame">Link</a>
<frameset cols="200,*">
  <frame src="menu.html" name="myFrame">
  <frame src="content.html">
</frameset>

When clicking on “Link”, ‘Page3’ would load within “myFrame”.

<frameset cols="200,*">
  <frame src="fixed_menu.html" noresize>
  <frame src="resizable_content.html">
</frameset>

In this example, the frame displaying ‘fixed_menu.html’ cannot be resized, while the one showing ‘resizable_content.html’ can.

Now here’s a common mistake: forgetting to close your <frame> tag. While some browsers might still render your page correctly, it’s crucial to always close your tags!

<frameset cols="200,*">
  <frame src="menu.html" name="myFrame"></frame>
  <frame src="content.html"></frame>
</frameset>

That’s a quick run-through of key attributes for the HTML <frame> tag. Remember, though: it’s not recommended in modern web development!

How to Use the HTML <frame> Tag

HTML’s <frame> tag is a powerful tool when it comes to web design. It’s all about segmenting your webpage into different sections or ‘frames’, each capable of displaying its own independent document. Now, I’ll show you how to use this handy little tag.

To start using the <frame> tag, you first need an enclosing <frameset> tag. This replaces your usual <body> section in the HTML document and allows for the creation of multiple frames within. Here’s an example:

<frameset cols="50%,50%">
  <frame src="page1.html">
  <frame src="page2.html">
</frameset>

In this scenario, we’ve created two frames that will split up your screen into equal halves horizontally. Each frame displays content from a different source – page1.html on the left and page2.html on the right.

The “cols” attribute inside the opening <frameset> tag sets up how much space each frame consumes. You can also use “rows” instead of “cols”, if you want to align your frames vertically rather than horizontally.

Although it’s straightforward enough, there are some common mistakes people make with the HTML <frame> tag:

One more thing you should know about: The <noframes> tag goes hand in hand with our friend, the <frame> tag. If a user’s browser doesn’t support frames, whatever you put inside this ‘noframes’ element will be displayed instead! It’s like having a backup plan for every contingency!

Alright then! That wraps up our little tutorial on HTML’s <frame> tag. With these details in mind, I’m sure you’ll be framing up your webpages like a pro in no time!

Practical Examples of the HTML <frame> Tag in Action

Let’s dive into some practical examples of the HTML <frame> tag.

To begin, you’ll need to remember that a frame is a part of a web page or browser window which displays content independent of its container, with the ability to load content independently. In essence, it’s like having multiple mini browsers on one screen.

For our first example, let’s say we’re creating an online book. We’d use frames to separate the table of contents from each chapter’s text. Here’s how we might implement that:

<frameset cols="20%, 80%">
  <frame src="table_of_contents.html" />
  <frame src="chapter1.html" />
</frameset>

In this code snippet, cols specifies the width distribution between frames – in our case, 20% and 80%. Each <frame> tag uses src attribute to link specific pages.

Onwards! Let’s imagine you’re building a photo gallery site where users can select an album and see photos without leaving the page. The frames make this possible:

<frameset rows="10%,90%">
    <frame src="menu.html"/>
    <frameset cols="50%,50%">
        <frame src="album1.html"/>
        <frame src="album2.html"/> 
    </frameset>
</frameset>

Here we have nested framesets; rows in outer set allocates space for menu at top while inner set divides remaining space equally for two albums.

While these examples showcase potential uses for the HTML <frame> tag, I should note it’s not commonly used today due to usability and accessibility issues. Modern CSS and JS techniques often offer more flexible solutions.

Common mistakes? Well, often developers forget to include a <noframes> tag which supports users with older browsers that don’t support frames. It’s also essential to remember that each <frame> is an independent entity, so any style or script loaded in one frame won’t impact others – something that often trips up beginners.

<frameset cols="50%,50%">
    <frame src="page1.html"/>
    <frame src="page2.html"/> 
    <noframes>
        Your browser does not support frames.
    </noframes>
</frameset>

This example uses the <noframes> tag to display a message for users whose browsers do not support frames.

Remember, it’s all about making your website as accessible and user-friendly as possible!

Conclusion: Mastering the HTML <frame> Tag

It’s been quite a journey, hasn’t it? But now we’ve reached the end of our learning curve with the HTML <frame> tag. I’m confident that you’ve gained enough knowledge to use this tag effectively in your own web projects.

HTML frames have been around for a while, and they’re as useful today as they were when first introduced. They allow us to split up our webpage into different sections, each capable of loading its own content independently. This can greatly enhance user experience and site navigation.

<frameset cols="25%,*,25%">
  <frame src="frame_a.html">
  <frame src="frame_b.html">
  <frame src="frame_c.html">
</frameset>

The example above shows how simple it is to create a webpage layout using three frames. In this case, we have divided our page into three columns with widths set at 25% for the first column, automatic width for the second one (it’ll take up remaining space), and another 25% for the third column.

Although working with frames can be straightforward most times, there are common mistakes developers often make:

Remember these pitfalls as you continue exploring HTML development.

By mastering HTML’s <frame> tag, you’ve added a powerful tool to your web development arsenal—one that offers flexibility in design approach and enhances user interface significantly. So go ahead! Start experimenting with what you’ve learned; I’m certain your future projects will benefit tremendously from this newfound expertise!

Cristian G. Guasch

Hey! I'm Cristian Gonzalez, I created HTML Easy to help you learn HTML easily and fast.

Related articles