HTML <frame> Tag
Example
A simple three-framed page:
<html>
<frameset cols="25%,50%,25%">
<frame src="frame_a.htm" />
<frame src="frame_b.htm" />
<frame src="frame_c.htm" />
</frameset>
</html> |
Try it yourself » (more examples at the bottom of this page) |
Definition and Usage
The <frame> tag defines one particular window (frame) within a frameset.
Each frame in a frameset can have different attributes, such as border, scrolling, the ability to resize, etc.
Browser Support
The <frame> tag is supported in all major browsers.
Differences Between HTML and XHTML
In HTML the <frame> tag has no end tag.
In XHTML the <frame> tag must be properly closed.
Tips and Notes
Note: If you want to validate a page containing frames, be sure the doctype is set to "Frameset DTD". Read more about doctypes.
Important: You cannot use the body element together with the frameset element. However, if you add a <noframes> tag containing some text for browsers that do not
support frames, you will have to enclose the text in a body element.
Optional Attributes
DTD indicates in which DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.
| Attribute |
Value |
Description |
DTD |
| frameborder |
0
1 |
Specifies whether or not to display a border around a frame |
F |
| longdesc |
URL |
Specifies a page that contains a long description of the
content of a frame |
F |
| marginheight |
pixels |
Specifies the top and bottom margins of a frame |
F |
| marginwidth |
pixels |
Specifies the left and right margins of a frame |
F |
| name |
name |
Specifies the name of a frame |
F |
| noresize |
noresize |
Specifies that a frame cannot be resized |
F |
| scrolling |
yes
no
auto |
Specifies whether or not to display scrollbars in a frame |
F |
| src |
URL |
Specifies the URL of the document to show in a frame |
F |
Standard Attributes
The <frame> tag supports the following standard attributes:
| Attribute |
Value |
Description |
DTD |
| class |
classname |
Specifies a classname for an element |
STF |
| id |
id |
Specifies a unique id for an element |
STF |
| style |
style_definition |
Specifies an inline style for an element |
STF |
| title |
text |
Specifies extra information about an element |
STF |
More information about Standard Attributes.
Event Attributes
The <frame> tag does not support any event attributes.
More information about Event Attributes.
 |
Try it Yourself - Examples |
Horizontal frameset
How to make a horizontal frameset with three different documents.
Mixed frameset
How to make a frameset with three documents, and how to mix them in rows and columns.
How to use the <noframes> tag
How to use the <noframes> tag.
Frameset
with noresize="noresize"
How to use the "noresize" attribute. The frames are not resizable. Move the
mouse over the borders between the frames and notice that you can not move the
borders.
Navigation frame
How to make a navigation frame. The navigation frame contains a list of links
with the second frame as the target. The file called "tryhtml_contents.htm"
contains three links. The source code of the links:
<a href ="frame_a.htm" target ="showframe">Frame a</a><br>
<a href ="frame_b.htm" target ="showframe">Frame b</a><br>
<a href ="frame_c.htm" target ="showframe">Frame c</a>
The second frame will show the linked document.
Jump to a
specified section within a frame
This example demonstrates two frames. One of the frames has a source to a
specified section in a file. The specified section is made with <a name="C10">
in the "link.htm" file.
Jump
to a specified section with frame navigation
This example demonstrates two frames. The navigation frame (content.htm) to the
left contains a list of links with the second frame (link.htm) as a target. The
second frame shows the linked document. One of the links in the navigation frame
is linked to a specified section in the target file. The HTML code in the file "content.htm"
looks like this: <a href ="link.htm" target ="showframe">Link without
Anchor</a><br><a href ="link.htm#C10" target ="showframe">Link with Anchor</a>.
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