Frames in HTML: Enhancing Web Layout and Functionality

Do you know that frames play a crucial role in the realm of web development? Transforming complex web page layouts into easy-to-understand and navigable features of a webpage is what HTML frames do. With the help of frames, it is simpler to create interactive elements, such as buttons, forms, and menus, and to display code snippets. The purpose of this blog is to help you understand frames in HTML and how they are implemented, their benefits, and their limitations. We will also learn some best practices you can follow while using frames.

What Are HTML Frames?

Frames in HTML are used in web development to divide a webpage into separate sections. Each frame can display its own HTML document. To control the layout and size of these frames, developers use framesets that allow for independent scrolling and customization of content. Frames are crucial elements of the web development process. If you wish to boost your web development skills, check out the full-stack development course with placement and get assistance to transition from a beginner to a professional in just 8 months.

Understanding Frames

Developers depend on frames in HTML to build webpages that display various sections. 

• Each of the sections of the browser window is known as a frame and is displayed within a <frameset> or an inline frame (<iframe>) element.
• Each section highlights separate documents or content.
• Frames in HTML are organized by structuring them in rows and columns within the <frameset> element. 
• The <frameset> element establishes the web page’s structure. 
• The <frame >and <iframe> elements create the individual frames. 
• The <frame> element is used to create a single frame within a frameset. The attributes cols and rows are used to define the proportion in percentage or an absolute size value like pixels.
• The <iframe> element can be used to embed external content within a webpage. It requires the ‘src’ attribute to specify the URL of the external content. The width and height attributes define the dimensions of the iframe.
• Each frame has its source URL, which allows for displaying content independently.
• A <frameset> element is mainly used to create multi-frame layouts within a single page.

Implementing Frames

Implementing frames in web development allows you to divide a webpage into multiple independent sections. Framesets create rows and columns, while iframes embed external content. You can also customize frames with attributes like cols, rows, width, and height for a dynamic user experience. Let’s look at these in detail below.

1. Creating a Frameset

To form a frameset, start by using the `<frameset>` element. Within the<frameset>,  specify rows and columns by employing the `<frame>` element.

For example:

<frameset rows="50%,50%">

This will construct a frameset consisting of two rows that have equal height inside each row. 

Using the <frame> element, individual frames can be designated. To set the size of each frame, use attributes such as `cols` and `rows` to define the proportion or an absolute size value like pixels.

2. Using iframes

The iframes provide a way to embed external content within a webpage.

The syntax for an iframe is:

<iframe src="external.html"></iframe>

By specifying the `src` attribute, it is easier to load a separate HTML document or any other web resource inside the iframe. iframes offer additional attributes for customization, such as `width` and `height` to define the dimensions of the iframe. To control the appearance and behavior of the iframe, use attributes like `frame border` to display or hide the frame border, and `scrolling` to enable or disable scrolling within the iframe.

The <frameset> Tag Attribute

The <frameset> tag attribute in HTML is an HTML element used to divide a web page into multiple frames. It is used to create a frameset, which is a collection of frames used to display multiple documents in a single window.

There are five attributes of the <frameset> tag.

1. Cols

The cols attribute specifies the number of columns (vertical frames) in the frameset. For each vertical frame, the width can be set in two ways:

a. Pixels

For absolute width, the width is set in pixels, such as 100px or 200px. 

For example, set values of columns in a frame as cols=”100px,200px,300px”.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Frameset’s Col Attribute in Pixels</title>
</head>
<frameset cols="100px, 200px, 300px">
    <frame src="frame1.html">
    <frame src="frame2.html">
    <frame src="frame3.html">
</frameset>
</html>

Output:

b. Percentage

For relative width, the width is set as a percentage of the browser window, such as 25%, 50%, or 100%. 

For example, set values of columns in a frame as cols=”25%,50%,25%”

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Frameset’s Col Attribute in Percentage</title>
</head>
<frameset cols="25%, 50%, 25%">
    <frame src="frame1.html">
    <frame src="frame2.html">
    <frame src="frame3.html">
</frameset>
</html>

Output:

Note: In both these HTML codes and the following codes under this section, there are three <frame> elements within the <frameset> tag. Each <frame> with the ‘src’ attribute specifies the HTML files that should be displayed in that frame.

2. Rows

The rows attribute specifies the number of rows (horizontal frames) in the frameset tag. For example, to create four horizontal frames, set the value as rows=”25%,50%,25%”. It will create three rows, each occupying 25%, 50%, and 25% of the browser window.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Frameset’s Rows Attribute Example</title>
</head>
<frameset rows="25%, 50%, 25%">
    <frame src="frame1.html">
    <frame src="frame2.html">
    <frame src="frame3.html">
</frameset>
</html>

Output:

3. Border

The border attribute of the <frameset> tag specifies the width of the border around each frame. It is specified in pixels, and its default value is 2. This attribute is used to give visual separation between frames. 

For example, a frameset with cols=”25%,50%,25%” and border=”4″ will have a 4-pixel border between each frame. If border=”0”, this means that there is no border. Here is the HTML code to set the border to 4 pixels.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Frameset with Border Example</title>
</head>
<frameset cols="25%, 50%, 25%" border="4">
    <frame src="frame1.html">
    <frame src="frame2.html">
    <frame src="frame3.html">
</frameset>
</html>

Output:

4. Frameborder

The frameborder attribute of the <frameset> tag specifies whether a border should be shown around each frame. It is a boolean value, which means it can either be set to true or false.

If frameborder is set to “1” or “yes”, then a border will be shown around each frame. If frameborder is set to “0” or “no”, then no border will be shown. This attribute is used to give visual separation between frames. Here is the HTML code to set the frameborder to false:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Frameset with No Frameborder Example</title>
</head>
<frameset cols="25%, 50%, 25%" frameborder="0">
<frame src="frame1.html">
<frame src="frame2.html">
<frame src="frame3.html">
</frameset>
</html>

Output:

5. Framespacing

The framespacing attribute of the <frameset> tag specifies the amount of space in pixels between each frame in the frameset. The default value of framespacing is 0, which means that there is no space between frames. This attribute is used to give visual separation between frames.

For example, a frameset with cols=”25%,50%,25%” and framespacing=”10″ will have 10 pixels of spacing between each frame. Here is the HTML code to set the framespacing to 10 pixels:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Frameset with Framespacing Example</title>
</head>
<frameset cols="25%, 50%, 25%" framespacing="10">
<frame src="frame1.html">
<frame src="frame2.html">
<frame src="frame3.html">
</frameset>
</html>

Output:

Advantages of Using Frames

Frames in HTML have several advantages, such as achieving layout flexibility, creating navigation menus and sidebars, and more. Let’s take a look at these advantages in detail.

• Achieving Layout Flexibility: Developers can utilize frames to create intricate layouts by dividing a webpage into various sections. This level of flexibility empowers the design of websites that feature responsive navigation menus, sidebars, and autonomous content panes. By utilizing framesets, it becomes simpler to uphold a consistent layout throughout multiple pages.
• Creating Navigation Menus and Sidebars: Frame tag in HTML is often used to develop fixed navigation menus or sidebars that remain visible while the remaining content on the page undergoes alterations. Such a method guarantees effortless navigation and provides a user-friendly means of accessing significant information or functions across the entirety of the website.
• Displaying Content from Multiple Sources: iframes provide a seamless method of incorporating external content, such as videos, maps, or social media feeds directly into a webpage. This allows developers to effortlessly integrate dynamic content from various sources without compromising the website’s overall design or performance.
• Enhancing User Experience: Frames in HTML can greatly improve the user experience by enabling interactive content to load separately within a designated part of the webpage. For example, iframes can be used to incorporate a chat widget or a real-time data display, ensuring that these HTML elements update smoothly without having to refresh the entire page.

To learn more about frames and how they help in web development, consider taking an online web development course. Also, read the advantages of HTML.

Limitations and Considerations While Using Frames

The following are the limitations and considerations while using frames in HTML.

• SEO Implications and Accessibility Concerns: Frames in HTML pose challenges in terms of search engine optimization (SEO) and accessibility. They can cause obstacles in search engine indexing, making the website less likely to be found. Furthermore, visually impaired users face difficulties when navigating frame-based layouts, with screen readers impacting the site’s accessibility.
• Cross-Domain Security Issues: The use of iframes may be hindered by cross-domain scripting restrictions for embedding diverse domain content. To safeguard against various types of cyber security attacks and other potential security threats, browsers implement stringent measures, making it vital to verify the trustworthiness and adherence to the security protocols of the embedded content.
• Responsiveness and Mobile Device Compatibility: Frames in HTML may not be the best choice for responsive web design, as resizing frames on smaller screens can result in distorted layouts and usability issues. Therefore, when utilizing frames, it is crucial to take into account the responsiveness of the design and guarantee that the frames adjust effectively to different screen sizes and orientations.

Best Practices for Using Frames in HTML

Frames are used in the web development process to split a webpage into multiple sections or to display external webpages within a frame. If you must use frames for a specific reason, it’s essential to follow these best practices to ensure a better user experience. 

• Use <frameset> Tag Instead of a <body> Tag: The <frameset> tag is used to create a frame layout. It is more efficient than using the <body> tag, as it allows the layout to be created in a single tag instead of having to use multiple tags and attributes. Using the <frameset> tag allows for more control over the layout.
• No Overlapping of Content: Make sure that the content of one frame does not overlap with the content of another frame. Overlapping content can be difficult to read and navigate, making it difficult for the user to understand the page. 
• Include Scrollbars in Frames: Try to include scrollbars in frames to allow users to scroll through the content easily. Make sure scrollbars are visible to users, ensuring that users can scroll through the entire content of the frame, even if it does not fit within the visible area.
• Aim for Easy Navigation: When using frames, it is important to provide meaningful navigation links between frames. This allows users to easily move between frames and access the content they are looking for.
• Test the Frames on Multiple Browsers: Every web browser interprets the code differently, where some browsers may not support frames. Therefore, frames should be tested on multiple browsers and devices to ensure they are displayed correctly.

Conclusion

Frames in HTML are a crucial component in the world of web development, providing a valuable means of arranging and presenting content. However, it is important to recognize that frames do have their limitations to be taken into account. It is essential to carefully balance the advantages and disadvantages they offer. 

Also, read HTML interview questions to prepare yourself for your next interview and land your dream job.

FAQs