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 defined on media queries which image it shows.

HTML Picture Element

Ok, let’s get started!

For this example, we will be using extreme cases. Usually, you would use a modified version of your original image but in a smaller 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 than 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.

See the Pen HTML Picture Element Responsive Images by Chris Bongers (@rebelchris) on CodePen.

Browser Support

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

Picture Element support

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🛠 Edit on GitHub

HTML Picture Element Responsive Images