Frame vs. Iframe — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 20, 2024
Frame allows for dividing a web page into multiple sections with independent content, while an iframe embeds another HTML document within a page.
Difference Between Frame and Iframe
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A frame is a concept used in web design to divide a webpage into separate sections, each capable of loading different documents independently. This is achieved using HTML frameset. Whereas, an iframe, short for inline frame, is an HTML element that allows embedding another HTML document within a parent document, making it a powerful tool for incorporating content like videos, maps, or a web page within another.
Frames were once popular for creating layouts and loading content from different sources without reloading the entire page. However, they have become largely obsolete due to usability and accessibility issues. On the other hand, iframes are still widely used for embedding content from third-party services, such as YouTube videos or Google Maps, without affecting the rest of the page's structure or loading time.
The use of frames can make a website difficult to navigate, especially for search engines and users with disabilities, as they can complicate the website's structure. Iframes, while more flexible and less disruptive to the overall design, still need to be used carefully to maintain website security and performance.
In terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), frames can negatively impact a site's visibility because search engines might have difficulty crawling and indexing content divided among different frames. Iframes can also pose SEO challenges, but they are generally more SEO-friendly if used correctly, as the main content of the page remains intact.
Developers must consider accessibility when using either frames or iframes. Frames often lead to navigation issues for screen readers used by visually impaired users, whereas iframes can be made more accessible with appropriate titles and descriptions, although they still require careful integration into the web page's overall accessibility strategy.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Divides web pages into multiple sections.
Embeds another HTML document within a page.
Usage
Obsolete for layouts and content division.
Widely used for embedding external content.
SEO Impact
Negative, complicates crawling and indexing.
Can be more SEO-friendly if used properly.
Accessibility
Often problematic, complicates navigation.
Can be made accessible with proper implementation.
Integration
Requires frameset to work, less common today.
Easily integrated into HTML with the <iframe> tag.
Compare with Definitions
Frame
Obsolete HTML element for layout design.
Older websites often used frames to achieve their complex layouts.
Iframe
Maintains the integrity of the parent page's design.
Using an iframe for embedding maps keeps the original design intact.
Frame
Not recommended for modern web design.
Designers avoid frames due to their negative impact on usability and SEO.
Iframe
Can be made accessible with proper tags and descriptions.
Properly labeled iframes improve accessibility for all users.
Frame
Rarely used in contemporary web development.
Frames have been replaced by CSS and JavaScript for web layout.
Iframe
Requires careful consideration for SEO and performance.
Optimizing iframe content is crucial for the site's SEO.
Frame
A structure for dividing a webpage into parts, each for a different document.
The website used frames to separate the menu from the main content.
Iframe
An HTML element to embed external content within a webpage.
The site uses an iframe to include a YouTube video.
Frame
Can complicate web navigation and accessibility.
Navigating a site with frames can be confusing for users and screen readers.
Iframe
Preferred method for integrating third-party content.
Iframes are ideal for including external applications without direct integration.
Frame
A structure that gives shape or support
The frame of a house.
Iframe
(Internet) A section of a web page that can act as the container for a second separate page or resource.
Frame
The structure or physique of a human or animal body
A worker's sturdy frame.
Frame
An open structure or rim for encasing, holding, or bordering
A window frame.
The frame of a mirror.
Frame
A closed, often rectangular border of drawn or printed lines.
Frame
The edge, usually rectangular, delimiting the boundaries of an image.
Frame
The bounded area of a visual image, as in photography or film
Filled the frame with a cast of thousands.
Frame
One of the set of still images that constitute a film or video.
Frame
A single image, as in a comic strip or graphic novel, usually bounded by a rectangular line.
Frame
(Computers) A rectangular area in which text or graphics can be shown, especially one of several rectangular areas on a web page displaying different documents simultaneously.
Frame
A general structure or system
The frame of government.
Frame
A general state or condition
The news put me into a better frame of mind.
Frame
A frame of reference.
Frame
The presentation of events in a narrative work, especially a work of literature or film, such that characters in the narrative exist in isolation, uninfluenced by, unaware of, and unable to interact with the narrator or audience.
Frame
The context in which discourse occurs.
Frame
A pattern for a syntactic construction in which one of a group of words can vary.
Frame
A round or period of play in some games, such as bowling and billiards.
Frame
(Baseball) An inning.
Frame
Often frames A pair of eyeglasses, excluding the lenses
Had new lenses fitted into an old pair of frames.
Frame
See cold frame.
Frame
(Informal) A frame-up.
Frame
(Obsolete) Shape; form.
Frame
To enclose in a frame
Frame a painting.
Frame
To put together the structural parts of; construct the frame of
Frame a house.
Frame
To conceive or design
Framed an alternate proposal.
Frame
To establish the context for and terminology regarding (a subject of discussion or debate), especially so as to exclude an unwanted point of view
The question was framed to draw only one answer.
Frame
To put into words; formulate
Frame a reply.
Frame
To form (words) silently with the lips.
Frame
To make up evidence or contrive events so as to incriminate (a person) falsely.
Frame
To prearrange (a contest) so as to ensure a desired fraudulent outcome; fix
Frame a prizefight.
Frame
(Baseball) To catch (a pitch) in such a way as to make it appear to have passed through the strike zone.
Frame
(Archaic) To go; proceed
"Frame upstairs, and make little din" (Emily Brontë).
Frame
(transitive) To fit, as for a specific end or purpose; make suitable or comfortable; adapt; adjust.
Frame
(transitive) To construct by fitting together or uniting various parts; fabricate by union of constituent parts.
Frame
(transitive) To bring or put into form or order; adjust the parts or elements of; compose; contrive; plan; devise.
Frame
(transitive) Of a constructed object such as a building, to put together the structural elements.
Once we finish framing the house, we'll hang tin on the roof.
Frame
(transitive) Of a picture such as a painting or photograph, to place inside a decorative border.
Frame
(transitive) To position visually within a fixed boundary.
The director frames the fishing scene very well.
Frame
(transitive) To construct in words so as to establish a context for understanding or interpretation.
How would you frame your accomplishments?
The way the opposition has framed the argument makes it hard for us to win.
They have framed this sentencing bill as not caring about victims; we have to frame it as preventing government overreach.
Frame
Conspire to falsely incriminate a presumably innocent person. See frameup.
The gun had obviously been placed in her car in an effort to frame her.
Frame
To wash ore with the aid of a frame.
Frame
To move.
Frame
To proceed; to go.
Frame
(tennis) To hit (the ball) with the frame of the racquet rather than the strings (normally a mishit).
Frame
To strengthen; refresh; support.
Frame
To execute; perform.
All have sworn him an oath that they should frame his will on earth.
Frame
To cause; to bring about; to produce.
Frame
To profit; avail.
Frame
To fit; accord.
Frame
To succeed in doing or trying to do something; manage.
Frame
The structural elements of a building or other constructed object.
Now that the frame is complete, we can start on the walls.
Frame
Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure.
Frame
The structure of a person's body; the human body.
His starved flesh hung loosely on his once imposing frame.
Frame
A rigid, generally rectangular mounting for paper, canvas or other flexible material.
The painting was housed in a beautifully carved frame.
Frame
A piece of photographic film containing an image.
A film projector shows many frames in a single second.
Frame
A context for understanding or interpretation.
In this frame, it's easy to ask the question that the investigators missed.
Frame
(snooker) A complete game of snooker, from break-off until all the balls (or as many as necessary to win) have been potted.
Frame
(networking) An independent chunk of data sent over a network.
Frame
(bowling) A set of balls whose results are added together for scoring purposes. Usually two balls, but only one ball in the case of a strike, and three balls in the case of a strike or a spare in the last frame of a game.
Frame
(bowling) The complete set of pins to be knocked down in their starting configuration.
Frame
(horticulture) A movable structure used for the cultivation or the sheltering of plants.
A forcing-frame; a cucumber frame
Frame
(philately) The outer decorated portion of a stamp's image, often repeated on several issues although the inner picture may change.
Frame
(philately) The outer circle of a cancellation mark.
Frame
A division of time on a multimedia timeline, such as 1/30th or 1/60th of a second.
Frame
(Internet) An individually scrollable region of a webpage.
Frame
An inning.
Frame
Any of certain machines built upon or within framework.
A stocking frame; a lace frame; a spinning frame
Frame
(dated) Frame of mind; disposition.
To be always in a happy frame
Frame
(obsolete) Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming.
Frame
A stage or location in a video game.
Frame
A way of dividing nucleotide sequences into a set of consecutive triplets.
Frame
(computing) A form of knowledge representation in artificial intelligence.
Frame
(mathematics) A complete lattice in which meets distribute over arbitrary joins.
Frame
To originate; to plan; to devise; to contrive; to compose; in a bad sense, to invent or fabricate, as something false.
How many excellent reasonings are framed in the mind of a man of wisdom and study in a length of years.
Frame
To fit to something else, or for some specific end; to adjust; to regulate; to shape; to conform.
And frame my face to all occasions.
We may in some measure frame our minds for the reception of happiness.
The human mind is framed to be influenced.
Frame
To cause; to bring about; to produce.
Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds.
Frame
To support.
That on a staff his feeble steps did frame.
Frame
To provide with a frame, as a picture.
Frame
To manufacture false evidence against (an innocent person), so as to make the person appear guilty of a crime. The act of framing a person is often referred to as a frame-up.
Frame
To shape; to arrange, as the organs of speech.
Frame
To proceed; to go.
The bauty of this sinful dameMade many princes thither frame.
Frame
Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure; esp., the constructional system, whether of timber or metal, that gives to a building, vessel, etc., its model and strength; the skeleton of a structure.
These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,Almighty! thine this universal frame.
Frame
A kind of open case or structure made for admitting, inclosing, or supporting things, as that which incloses or contains a window, door, picture, etc.; that on which anything is held or stretched
Frame
A term applied, especially in England, to certain machines built upon or within framework; as, a stocking frame; lace frame; spinning frame, etc.
Frame
Form; shape; proportion; scheme; structure; constitution; system; as, a frameof government.
She that hath a heart of that fine frameTo pay this debt of love but to a brother.
Put your discourse into some frame.
Frame
Particular state or disposition, as of the mind; humor; temper; mood; as, to be always in a happy frame. Same as frame of mind
Frame
Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming.
John the bastardWhose spirits toil in frame of villainies.
Frame
In games: (a) In pool, the triangular form used in setting up the balls; also, the balls as set up, or the round of playing required to pocket them all; as, to play six frames in a game of 50 points. (b) In bowling, as in tenpins, one of the several innings forming a game.
Frame
A structure supporting or containing something
Frame
One of a series of still transparent photographs on a strip of film used in making movies
Frame
Alternative names for the body of a human being;
Leonardo studied the human body
He has a strong physique
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
Frame
A period of play in baseball during which each team has a turn at bat
Frame
The hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal
Frame
The internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape;
The building has a steel skeleton
Frame
Enclose in or as if in a frame;
Frame a picture
Frame
Enclose in a frame, as of a picture
Frame
Take or catch as if in a snare or trap;
I was set up!
The innocent man was framed by the police
Frame
Formulate in a particular style or language;
I wouldn't put it that way
She cast her request in very polite language
Frame
Draw up the plans or basic details for;
Frame a policy
Frame
Construct by fitting or uniting parts together
Common Curiosities
What is a frame?
A frame is an obsolete HTML element used to divide a web page into multiple sections, each capable of loading a separate document.
Why are frames considered obsolete?
Frames are considered obsolete due to their negative impact on usability, accessibility, and SEO.
What is an iframe?
An iframe, or inline frame, is an HTML element that embeds another HTML document within a parent webpage.
How are iframes different from frames?
Iframes allow for embedding content within a page without dividing it into sections, unlike frames which create separate sections.
Are iframes safe to use?
Iframes are safe if sourced from trusted sites, though they can pose security risks if content is embedded from unknown or untrusted sources.
Are iframes accessible for users with disabilities?
Iframes can be made accessible with proper use of titles and descriptions, but require careful implementation.
Why might a developer choose to use an iframe?
A developer might use an iframe to embed external content like videos, maps, or applications without direct integration.
Can iframes affect website performance?
Yes, if not optimized properly, iframes can slow down page loading times.
Can frames be used in modern web development?
Frames are not recommended in modern web development due to better alternatives like CSS for layouts.
Is it possible to style an iframe?
Yes, iframes can be styled with CSS, but styling is limited to the iframe element itself, not the content inside it.
Can I use JavaScript with iframes?
Yes, JavaScript can interact with iframes, such as adjusting the height based on the content.
How do iframes impact SEO?
Iframes can impact SEO if overused or not properly implemented, as they can hide content from search engines.
Do search engines crawl iframe content?
Search engines may crawl iframe content, but the embedded content might not contribute to the parent page's SEO ranking.
How can I make an iframe more accessible?
Use the title attribute to provide a description of the iframe's content for screen readers.
What are the alternatives to using frames for layout?
Alternatives include CSS Grid and Flexbox, which offer more flexible and accessible layout options.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
