HTML Picture Element Responsive Images

Today we'll be looking at the HTML Picture element. It can be used to have native responsive image support.

So how it works is we wrap our normal img tag inside a picture element and add srcset images.

This will then be defining on media queries which image it shows.

HTML Picture Element

Ok, let's get started!

For this example, we will be using extreme cases, normally you would just use a modified version of your original image but in a smaller size or different orientation.

<picture>
  <source
    media="(min-width: 650px)"
    srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1589965716319-4a041b58fa8a?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1867&q=80"
  />
  <source
    media="(min-width: 465px)"
    srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534235261404-7625cd79bdb9?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1950&q=80"
  />
  <img
    src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1537151608828-ea2b11777ee8?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=939&q=80"
    alt="A amazing corgi dog"
  />
</picture>

Now on we should see the following:

• Screen above 650px - Corgi on a mountain
• Screen between 465 and 650px - Corgi on the stairs
• Screen smaller then 465 - Puppy Corgi!

Now isn't that amazing!

To make this function even better, add loading="lazy".

Feel free to view these Corgis on Codepen.

Browser Support

A super cool feature, but not supported by IE and Opera mini as expected.
However! They will fallback to the default image! So no real objection to using it!

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Comments

[Stephan Nijman]

Just add a loading="lazy" on the img tag in there and you have a pretty sweet thing going! :)

[Chris Bongers]

Super addition, going to add it to the article!

[Waylon Walker]

This is pretty amazing that this can be done so simply without any javascript, framework, or anything special. Just native HTML. Unless you need to support IE (which I do 😢)
.

[Chris Bongers]

Ah gool ol' IE.
Yes, but even then safes you the work for the other browser, this code will still progress in IE, only not show the actual srcset images.