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What is frameset in HTML?

Published in HTML Layout 3 mins read

A frameset in HTML is a structure used to define the layout of a webpage composed of multiple frames. It essentially divides the browser window into separate rectangular regions, each capable of displaying a different HTML document.

Understanding Framesets

Here's a breakdown of how framesets function, based on the provided reference:

  • Layout Definition: The core purpose of a frameset is to specify the layout of views in the main user agent window. This means it dictates how the browser window is partitioned and how different web pages or elements are displayed within those partitions.
  • Multiple Views: Unlike a regular HTML page that loads content in a single area, a frameset allows a webpage to display several documents at once. Each document is loaded into its allocated frame within the frameset.
  • NOFRAMES Element: A frameset can also include a NOFRAMES element. This is crucial because it provides alternate content to browsers that either:
    • Do not support frames.
    • Are configured by the user to not display frames.

How Framesets Work

Think of a frameset like a window frame dividing a larger window into smaller panes:

Frameset Concept Description
Window Frame The entire user agent window (e.g., the browser window)
Panes Individual frames within the browser window, each displaying unique content
Content The individual HTML documents loaded into each frame
Layout Determined by the attributes of the <frameset> tag (e.g., rows and cols)

Example Structure

While it's important to understand, framesets are considered outdated. Here's how a basic frameset was structured:

<frameset rows="25%,75%">
    <frame src="header.html" />
    <frameset cols="20%, 80%">
        <frame src="nav.html"/>
        <frame src="main.html"/>
    </frameset>
</frameset>

<noframes>
   <body>Your browser does not support frames.</body>
</noframes>

Important Notes:

  • rows and cols: The rows and cols attributes of the <frameset> tag are used to define the horizontal and vertical divisions of the browser window.
  • Nested Framesets: Framesets can be nested within each other to create more complex layouts.
  • Outdated: The use of framesets is generally discouraged in favor of more modern layout methods like CSS grid or flexbox due to issues such as poor accessibility and SEO challenges. Modern websites typically use iframes for embedding content within a page, or divs and CSS for complex layouts.

Alternatives to Framesets

Modern web development primarily uses the following alternatives for layout:

  • CSS Grid: A powerful two-dimensional layout system that allows for sophisticated grid-based layouts.
  • CSS Flexbox: A one-dimensional layout system, excellent for creating flexible and responsive layouts.
  • <iframe> (Inline Frame): Used for embedding content (like other HTML documents) within a single webpage.

In conclusion, the frameset in HTML, while once a popular method for structuring web pages, is now considered a legacy technique. Its primary function was to define and control the layout of multiple frames within the main browser window.

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