Is it possible to set the equivalent of a src attribute of an img tag in CSS?

Question

Is it possible to set the src attribute value in CSS? At present, what I am doing is:

Answer 1

A collection of possible methods to set images from CSS

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CSS2's :after pseudo-element or the newer syntax ::after from CSS3 along with the content: property:

_{First W3C Recommendation: Cascading Style Sheets, level 2 CSS2 Specification 12 May 1998}
^{Latest W3C Recommendation: Selectors Level 3 W3C Recommendation 29 September 2011}

This method appends content just after an element's document tree content.

Note: some browsers experimentally render the content property directly over some element selectors disregarding even the latest W3C recommendation that defines:

Applies to: :before and :after pseudo-elements

CSS2 syntax (forward-compatible):

.myClass:after {
  content: url("somepicture.jpg");
}

CSS3 Selector:

.myClass::after {
  content: url("somepicture.jpg");
}

Default rendering: Original Size (does not depend on explicit size declaration)

This specification does not fully define the interaction of :before and :after with replaced elements (such as IMG in HTML). This will be defined in more detail in a future specification.

but even at the time of this writing, behaviour with a <IMG> tag is still not defined and although it can be used in a hacked and non standards compliant way, usage with <img> is not recommended!

Great candidate method, see conclusions...

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CSS1's background-image: property:

^{First W3C Recommendation: Cascading Style Sheets, level 1 17 Dec 1996}

This property sets the background image of an element. When setting a background image, one should also set a background color that will be used when the image is unavailable. When the image is available, it is overlaid on top of the background color.

This property has been around from the beginning of CSS and nevertheless it deserve a glorious mention.

Default rendering: Original Size (cannot be scaled, only positioned)

However,

CSS3's background-size: property improved on it by allowing multiple scaling options:

^{Latest W3C Status: Candidate Recommendation CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3 9 September 2014}

[length> | <percentage> | auto ]{1,2} | cover | contain

But even with this property, it depends on container size.

Still a good candidate method, see conclusions...

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CSS2's list-style: property along with display: list-item:

^{First W3C Recommendation: Cascading Style Sheets, level 2 CSS2 Specification 12 May 1998}

list-style-image: property sets the image that will be used as the list item marker (bullet)

The list properties describe basic visual formatting of lists: they allow style sheets to specify the marker type (image, glyph, or number)

display: list-item — This value causes an element (e.g., <li> in HTML) to generate a principal block box and a marker box.

.myClass {
    display: list-item;
    list-style-position: inside;
    list-style-image: url("someimage.jpg");
}

Shorthand CSS: (<list-style-type> <list-style-position> <list-style-image>)

.myClass {
    display: list-item;
    list-style: square inside url("someimage.jpg");
}

Default rendering: Original Size (does not depend on explicit size declaration)

Restrictions:

• Inheritance will transfer the 'list-style' values from OL and UL elements to LI elements. This is the recommended way to specify list style information.

• They do not allow authors to specify distinct style (colors, fonts, alignment, etc.) for the list marker or adjust its position

This method is also not suitable for the <img> tag as the conversion cannot be made between element types, and here's the limited, non compliant hack that doesn't work on Chrome.

Good candidate method, see conclusions...

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CSS3's border-image: property recommendation:

^{Latest W3C Status: Candidate Recommendation CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3 9 September 2014}

A background-type method that relies on specifying sizes in a rather peculiar manner (not defined for this use case) and fallback border properties so far (eg. border: solid):

Note that, even though they never cause a scrolling mechanism, outset images may still be clipped by an ancestor or by the viewport.

This example illustrates the image being composed only as a bottom-right corner decoration:

.myClass {
    border: solid;
    border-width: 0 480px 320px 0;
    border-image: url("http://i.imgur.com/uKnMvyp.jpg") 0 100% 100% 0;
}

Applies to: All elements, except internal table elements when border-collapse: collapse

Still it can't change an <img>'s tag src (but here's a hack), instead we can decorate it:

.myClass {
    border: solid;
    border-width: 0 96px 96px 0;
    border-image: url("http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Christmas_bell_icon_1.png") 
                  0 100% 100% 0;
}

<img width="300" height="120" 
     src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/253/b/0/merry_christmas_card_by_designworldwide-d5e9746.jpg" 
     class="myClass"

Good candidate method to be considered after standards propagate.

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CSS3's element() notation working draft is worth a mention also:

Note: The element() function only reproduces the appearance of the referenced element, not the actual content and its structure.

<div id="img1"></div>

<img id="pic1" src="http://i.imgur.com/uKnMvyp.jpg" class="hide" alt="wolf">
<img id="pic2" src="http://i.imgur.com/TOUfCfL.jpg" class="hide" alt="cat">

We'll use the rendered contents of one of the two hidden images to change the image background in #img1 based on the ID Selector via CSS:

#img1 {
    width: 480px; 
    height: 320px; 
    background: -moz-element(#pic1) no-repeat;
    background-size: 100% 100%;
}

.hide {display: none}

Notes: It's experimental and only works with the -moz prefix in Firefox and only over background or background-image properties, also needs sizes specified.

• element() Live Demo

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Conclusions

1. Any semantic content or structural information goes in HTML.
2. Styling and presentational information goes in CSS.
3. For SEO purposes, don't hide meaningful images in CSS.
4. Background graphics are usually disabled when printing.
5. Custom tags could be used and styled from CSS, but primitive versions of Internet Explorer do not understand](IE not styling HTML5 tags (with shiv)) without Javascript or CSS guidance.
6. SPA's (Single Page Applications), by design, usually incorporate images in the background

Having said that, let's explore HTML tags fit for image display:

The <li> element [HTML4.01+]

Perfect usecase of the list-style-image with display: list-item method.

The <li> element, can be empty, allows flow content and it's even permitted to omit the </li> end tag.

.bulletPics > li {display: list-item}
#img1 {list-style: square inside url("http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Nuvola_erotic.png")}
#img2 {list-style: square inside url("http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Globe_icon_2014-06-26_22-09.png")}
#img3 {list-style: square inside url("http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Kiwi_fruit.jpg")}

<ul class="bulletPics">
    <li id="img1">movie</li>
    <li id="img2">earth</li>
    <li id="img3">kiwi</li>
</ul>

Limitations: hard to style (width: or float: might help)

The <figure> element [HTML5+]

The figure element represents some flow content, optionally with a caption, that is self-contained (like a complete sentence) and is typically referenced as a single unit from the main flow of the document.

The element is valid with no content, but is recommended to contain a <figcaption>.

The element can thus be used to annotate illustrations, diagrams, photos, code listings, etc.

Default rendering: the element is right aligned, with both left and right padding!

• FIGURE Live Demo

The <object> element [HTML4+]

To include images, authors may use the OBJECT element or the IMG element.

The data attribute is required and can have a valid MIME type as a value!

<object data="data:x-image/x,"></object>

Note: a trick to make use of the <object> tag from CSS would be to set a custom valid MimeType x-image/x followed by no data (value has no data after the required comma ,)

Default rendering: 300 x 150px, but size can be specified either in HTML or CSS.

• OBJECT Live Demo

The <SVG> tag

Needs a SVG capable browser and has a <image> element for raster images

• SVG Live Demo

The <canvas> element [HTML5+].

The width attribute defaults to 300, and the height attribute defaults to 150.

• CANVAS Live Demo

The <input> element with type="image"

Limitations:

... the element is expected to appear button-like to indicate that the element is a button.

which Chrome follows and renders a 4x4px empty square when no text

Partial solution, set value=" ":

<input type="image" id="img1" value=" ">

• INPUT type=image Live Demo

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Also watch out for the upcoming <picture> element in HTML5.1, currently a working draft.

Answer 2

They are right. IMG is a content element and CSS is about design. But, how about when you use some content elements or properties for design purposes? I have IMG across my web pages that must change if i change the style (the CSS).

Well this is a solution for defining IMG presentation (no really the image) in CSS style.

1. create a 1x1 transparent gif or png.
   
2. Assign propery "src" of IMG to that image.
   
3. Define final presentation with "background-image" in the CSS style.
   

It works like a charm :)

Answer 3

If you are trying to add an image in a button dynamically based on the context of your project, you can use the ? take to reference the source based on an outcome. Here I am using mvvm design to let my Model.Phases[0] value determine whether I want my button to be populated with images of a lightbulb on or off based on the value of the light phase.

Not sure if this helps. I'm using JqueryUI, Blueprint, and CSS. The class definition should allow you to style the button based on whatever you'd like.

    <button>                           
  <img class="@(Model.Phases[0] ? "light-on": "light-off")" src="@(Model.Phases[0] ? "~/Images/LightBulbOn.png" : "~/Images/LightBulbOff.png")"/>                             
  <img class="@(Model.Phases[0] ? "light-on": "light-off")" src="@(Model.Phases[0] ? "~/Images/LightBulbOn.png" : "~/Images/LightBulbOff.png")"/>   
  <img class="@(Model.Phases[0] ? "light-on": "light-off")" src="@(Model.Phases[0] ? "~/Images/LightBulbOn.png" : "~/Images/LightBulbOff.png")"/>     

Answer 4

I know this is a really old question however no answers provide the proper reasoning for why this can never be done. While you can "do" what you are looking for you cannot do it in a valid way. In order to have a valid img tag it must have the src and alt attributes.

So any of the answers giving a way to do this with an img tag that does not use the src attribute are promoting use of invalid code.

In short: what you are looking for cannot be done legally within the structure of the syntax.

Source: W3 Validator

Answer 5

Here is a very good solution -> http://css-tricks.com/replace-the-image-in-an-img-with-css/

Pro(s) and Con(s):
(+) works with vector image that have relative width/height (a thing that RobAu's answer does not handle)
(+) is cross browser (works also for IE8+)
(+) it only uses CSS. So no need to modify the img src (or if you do not have access/do not want to change the already existing img src attribute).
(-) sorry, it does use the background css attribute :)

Answer 6

If you don't want to set a background property then you can't set the src attribute of an image using only CSS.

Alternatively you can use JavaScript to do such a thing.