# NOFRAMES - Frames Alternate Content

Syntax | <NOFRAMES>...<NOFRAMES>

Attribute Specifications

- common attributes

Contents

- In HTML 4.0 Transitional: inline elements, block-level elements
- In HTML 4.0 Frameset: one BODY element that must not contain any NOFRAMES elements

Contained in | APPLET, BLOCKQUOTE, BODY, BUTTON, CENTER, DD, DEL, DIV, FIELDSET, FORM, FRAMESET, IFRAME, INS, LI, MAP, NOSCRIPT, OBJECT, TD, TH

The NOFRAMES element contains content that should only be rendered when frames are not displayed. NOFRAMES is typically used in a Frameset document to provide alternate content for browsers that do not support frames or have frames disabled.

When used within a FRAMESET, NOFRAMES must contain a BODY element. There must not be any NOFRAMES elements contained within this BODY element.

A meaningful NOFRAMES element should always be provided in a Frameset document and should at the very least contain links to the main frame or frames. NOFRAMES should not contain a message telling the user to upgrade his or her browser. Some browsers support frames but allow the user to disable them.

Various methods of automatically creating non-frames content exist. See Frames design guidelines: automatic no-frames content for more details.

An example follows:

    <FRAMESET ROWS="*,100">
      <FRAMESET COLS="40%,*">
        <FRAME NAME="Menu" SRC="nav.html" TITLE="Menu">
        <FRAME NAME="Content" SRC="main.html" TITLE="Content">
      </FRAMESET>
      <FRAME NAME="Ad" SRC="ad.html" TITLE="Advertisement">
      <NOFRAMES>
        <BODY>
          <H1>Table of Contents</H1>
          <UL>
            <LI>
              <A HREF="reference/html40/">HTML 4.0 Reference</A>
            </LI>
            <LI>
              <A HREF="reference/wilbur/">HTML 3.2 Reference</A>
            </LI>
            <LI>
              <A HREF="reference/css/">CSS Guide</A>
            </LI>
          </UL>
          <P>
            <IMG SRC="ad.gif" ALT="Ad: Does your bank charge too much?">
          </P>
        </BODY>
      </NOFRAMES>
    </FRAMESET>

In HTML 4.0 Transitional, the NOFRAMES element is also permitted within most block-level elements. This allows authors to include content, such as navigation aids, that should only be displayed if the document is not being viewed within a frameset. Such use helps to ensure that a frame could stand on its own if bookmarked or accessed through a search engine while not burdening the frames user with duplicate content. However, most browsers do not support this use of NOFRAMES and will always display the content.

## More Information

- NOFRAMES in W3C HTML 4.0 Recommendation