---
title: HTMLImageElement
slug: Web/API/HTMLImageElement
tags:
  - API
  - HTML DOM
  - HTMLImageElement
  - Interface
  - NeedsTranslation
  - Reference
  - TopicStub
  - img
translation_of: Web/API/HTMLImageElement
---
<div>{{APIRef("HTML DOM")}}</div>

<p>The <strong><code>HTMLImageElement</code></strong> interface provides special properties and methods  for manipulating the layout and presentation of {{HTMLElement("img")}} elements.</p>

<p>{{InheritanceDiagram(600,120)}}</p>

<h2 id="Properties">Properties</h2>

<p><em>Inherits properties from its parent, {{domxref("HTMLElement")}}.</em></p>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.align")}} {{obsolete_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} indicating the alignment of the image with respect to the surrounding context. The possible values are <code>"left"</code>, <code>"right"</code>, <code>"justify"</code>, and <code>"center"</code>.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.alt")}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} that reflects the {{htmlattrxref("alt", "img")}} HTML attribute,  thus indicating fallback context for the image.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.border")}} {{obsolete_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} that is responsible for the width of the border surrounding the image. This is now deprecated and the CSS {{cssxref("border")}} property should be used instead.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.complete")}} {{readonlyInline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns a {{domxref("Boolean")}} that is <code>true</code> if the browser has finished fetching the image, whether successful or not. It also shows true, if the image has no {{domxref("HTMLImageElement.src", "src")}} value.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.crossOrigin")}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} representing the CORS setting for this image element. See <a href="/en-US/docs/HTML/CORS_settings_attributes">CORS settings attributes</a> for further details.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.currentSrc")}} {{readonlyInline}}{{experimental_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns a {{domxref("DOMString")}} representing the URL to the currently displayed image (which may change, for example in response to media queries).</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.height")}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a <code>unsigned long</code> that reflects the {{htmlattrxref("height", "img")}} HTML attribute, indicating the rendered height of the image in CSS pixels.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.hspace")}} {{obsolete_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a <code>long</code> representing the space on either side of the image.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.isMap")}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("Boolean")}} that reflects the {{htmlattrxref("ismap", "img")}} HTML attribute, indicating that the image is part of a server-side image map.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.longDesc")}} {{obsolete_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} representing the URI of a long description of the image.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.lowSrc")}} {{obsolete_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} that refers to a low-quality (but faster to load) copy of the image.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.name")}} {{obsolete_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} representing the name of the element.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.naturalHeight")}} {{readonlyInline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns a <code>unsigned long</code> representing the intrinsic height of the image in CSS pixels, if it is available; else, it shows <code>0</code>.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.naturalWidth")}} {{readonlyInline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns a <code>unsigned long</code> representing the intrinsic width of the image in CSS pixels, if it is available; otherwise, it will show <code>0</code>.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.referrerPolicy")}} {{experimental_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} that reflects the {{htmlattrxref("referrerpolicy", "img")}} HTML attribute indicating which referrer to use in order to fetch the image.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.src")}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} that reflects the {{htmlattrxref("src", "img")}} HTML attribute, containing the full URL of the image including base URI.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.sizes")}} {{experimental_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} reflecting the {{htmlattrxref("sizes", "img")}} HTML attribute.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.srcset")}} {{experimental_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} reflecting the {{htmlattrxref("srcset", "img")}} HTML attribute, containing a list of candidate images, separated by a comma (<code>',', U+002C COMMA</code>). A candidate image is a URL followed by a <code>'w'</code> with the width of the images, or an <code>'x'</code> followed by the pixel density.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.useMap")}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a {{domxref("DOMString")}} that reflects the {{htmlattrxref("usemap", "img")}} HTML attribute, containing a partial URL of a map element.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.vspace")}} {{obsolete_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a <code>long</code> representing the space above and below the image.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.width")}}</dt>
 <dd>Is a <code>unsigned long</code> that reflects the {{htmlattrxref("width", "img")}} HTML attribute, indicating the rendered width of the image in CSS pixels.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.x")}} {{readonlyInline}}{{experimental_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns a <code>long</code> representing the horizontal offset from the nearest layer. This property mimics an old Netscape 4 behavior.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.y")}} {{readonlyInline}} {{experimental_inline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns a <code>long</code> representing the vertical offset from the nearest layer. This property is also similar to behavior of an old Netscape 4.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Methods">Methods</h2>

<p><em>Inherits properties from its parent, {{domxref("HTMLElement")}}.</em></p>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("HTMLImageElement.Image()", "Image()")}}</dt>
 <dd>The <code>Image()</code> constructor, taking two optional <code>unsigned</code> <code>long</code>, which are the width and the height of the resource, creates an instance of <code>HTMLImageElement</code> , not inserted in a DOM tree.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Errors">Errors</h2>

<p>If an error occurs while trying to load or render the image, and an {{htmlattrxref("onerror")}} event handler has been configured to handle the {{event("error")}} event, that event handler will get called. This can happen in a number of situations, including:</p>

<ul>
 <li>The {{htmlattrxref("src", "img")}} attribute is empty or <code>null</code>.</li>
 <li>The specified <code>src</code> URL is the same as the URL of the page the user is currently on.</li>
 <li>The specified image is corrupted in some way that prevents it from being loaded.</li>
 <li>The specified image's metadata is corrupted in such a way that it's impossible to retrieve its dimensions, and no dimensions were specified in the <code>&lt;img&gt;</code> element's attributes.</li>
 <li>The specified image is in a format not supported by the {{Glossary("user agent")}}.</li>
</ul>

<h2 id="Example">Example</h2>

<pre class="brush: js">var img1 = new Image(); // HTML5 Constructor
img1.src = 'image1.png';
img1.alt = 'alt';
document.body.appendChild(img1);

var img2 = document.createElement('img'); // use DOM <a href="http://mxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/source/dom/interfaces/html/nsIDOMHTMLImageElement.idl">HTMLImageElement</a>
img2.src = 'image2.jpg';
img2.alt = 'alt text';
document.body.appendChild(img2);

// using first image in the document
alert(document.images[0].src);
</pre>

<h2 id="Specifications">Specifications</h2>

<table class="standard-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th scope="col">Specification</th>
   <th scope="col">Status</th>
   <th scope="col">Comment</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('Referrer Policy', '#referrer-policy-delivery-referrer-attribute', 'referrer attribute')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('Referrer Policy')}}</td>
   <td>Added the <code>referrerPolicy</code> property.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName("CSSOM View", "#excensions-to-the-htmlimageelement-interface", "Extensions to HTMLImageElement")}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('CSSOM View')}}</td>
   <td>Added the <code>x</code> and <code>y</code> properties.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('HTML WHATWG', "embedded-content.html#the-img-element", "HTMLImageElement")}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('HTML WHATWG')}}</td>
   <td>The following properties have been added: <code>srcset</code>, <code>currentSrc</code> and <code>sizes</code>.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('HTML5 W3C', "embedded-content-0.html#the-img-element", "HTMLImageElement")}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('HTML5 W3C')}}</td>
   <td>A constructor (with 2 optional parameters) has been added.<br>
    The following properties are now obsolete: <code>name</code>, <code>border</code>, <code>align</code>, <code>hspace</code>, <code>vspace</code>, and <code>longdesc</code>.<br>
    The following properties are now <code>unsigned long</code>, instead of <code>long</code>: <code>height</code>, and <code>width</code>.<br>
    The following properties have been added: <code>crossorigin</code>, <code>naturalWidth</code>, <code>naturalHeight</code>, and <code>complete</code>.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('DOM2 HTML', 'html.html#ID-17701901', 'HTMLImgElement')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('DOM2 HTML')}}</td>
   <td>The <code>lowSrc</code> property has been removed.<br>
    The following properties are now <code>long</code>, instead of <code>DOMString</code>: <code>height</code>, <code>width</code>, <code>hspace</code>, and <code>vspace</code>.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('DOM1', 'level-one-html.html#ID-17701901', 'HTMLImgElement')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('DOM1')}}</td>
   <td>Initial definition.</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

<h2 id="Browser_compatibility">Browser compatibility</h2>

<div>{{CompatibilityTable}}</div>

<div id="compat-desktop">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Chrome</th>
   <th>Edge</th>
   <th>Firefox (Gecko)</th>
   <th>Internet Explorer</th>
   <th>Opera</th>
   <th>Safari (WebKit)</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop(1.0)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>lowSrc</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>naturalWidth</code>, <code>naturalHeight</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>9</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>crossorigin</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>9</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>complete</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>5<sup>[4]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>srcset</code> {{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatChrome(34)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop(32)}}<sup>[2]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>21</td>
   <td>{{CompatSafari(7.1)}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>currentSrc </code>{{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop(32)}}<sup>[2]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>sizes</code> {{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop(33)}}<sup>[3]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>x</code> and <code>y</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>14<sup>[1]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>referrerPolicy</code> {{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatChrome(51)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop(50)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>onerror</code> event handler</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop(51)}}<sup>[5]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<div id="compat-mobile">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Android Webview</th>
   <th>Chrome for Android</th>
   <th>Edge</th>
   <th>Firefox Mobile (Gecko)</th>
   <th>IE Phone</th>
   <th>Opera Mobile</th>
   <th>Safari Mobile</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoMobile(1.0)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>lowSrc</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>naturalWidth</code>, <code>naturalHeight</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>9</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>crossorigin</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>complete</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>srcset</code> {{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatChrome(34)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatChrome(34)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoMobile(32)}}<sup>[2]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>iOS 8</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>currentSrc </code>{{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoMobile(32)}}<sup>[2]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>sizes</code> {{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoMobile(33)}}<sup>[3]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>x</code> and <code>y</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>14<sup>[1]</sup></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>referrerPolicy</code> {{experimental_inline}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatChrome(51)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatChrome(51)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoMobile(50)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>onerror</code> event handler</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoMobile(51)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<p>[1] Though, these <code>x</code> and <code>y</code> properties were removed in Gecko 7.0 {{geckoRelease("7.0")}} but later, they were restored in Gecko 14.0 {{geckoRelease("14.0")}} for compatibility reasons.</p>

<p>[2] This feature is behind the <code>dom.image.srcset.enabled</code> preference, defaulting to <code>false</code>.</p>

<p>[3] This feature is behind the <code>dom.image.picture.enabled</code> preference, defaulting to <code>false</code>.</p>

<p>[4] IE reports <code>false</code> for broken images.</p>

<p>[5] May also be supported in earlier versions.</p>

<h2 id="See_also">See also</h2>

<ul>
 <li>The HTML element implementing this interface: {{HTMLElement("img")}}</li>
</ul>