


How to provide a fallback image for browsers that don't support a specific format in HTML
Aug 01, 2025 am 07:06 AMUse <picture> elements to combine multiple
If you want to display images in modern formats like WebP, AVIF, or JPEG XL but still support older browsers that don't recognize them, you can't rely on the img
tag alone—because if a browser doesn't support the format, it just shows a broken image.

The solution is to use the <picture></picture>
element with multiple <source></source>
tags, letting the browser pick the first supported format.
Use the <picture></picture>
element for format fallbacks
The <picture></picture>
element acts as a container for multiple image sources. Browsers check each <source></source>
in order and use the first one they support. If none are supported, they fall back to the <img src="/static/imghw/default1.png" data-src="https://img.php.cn/upload/article/000/000/000/175400316372209.jpeg" class="lazy" alt="How to provide a fallback image for browsers that don't support a specific format in HTML" >
tag inside.

<picture> <source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif"> <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp"> <img src="/static/imghw/default1.png" data-src="image.jpg" class="lazy" alt="Description of image"> </picture>
- The browser tries
image.avif
first (if it supports AVIF). - If not, it tries
image.webp
. - If neither works, it loads
image.jpg
as a reliable fallback.
This method ensures all users see an image—even those on older browsers like Internet Explorer or early versions of Safari.
Why not just use img
with a fallback?
You might think of doing something like this:

<img src="/static/imghw/default1.png" data-src="image.webp" class="lazy" oneerror="this.src='image.jpg'" alt="How to provide a fallback image for browsers that don't support a specific format in HTML" >
While this can work, it's not recommended because:
-
onerror
only triggers after the browser fails to load the image, causing a delay. - It relies on JavaScript—so it breaks if JS is disabled.
- It's less predictable and not as clean as using semantic HTML.
Using <picture>
is the standard, accessible, and efficient way.
Best practices for fallback chains
When setting up your fallbacks, keep this order in mind:
- Put newest formats first (AVIF, then WebP).
- End with widely supported formats (JPEG, PNG).
- Always include an
<img src="/static/imghw/default1.png" data-src="photo-1x.jpg" class="lazy" alt="How to provide a fallback image for browsers that don't support a specific format in HTML" >
tag with asrc
—it's required and acts as the final fallback.
Example with high-res support:
<picture> <source srcset="photo.avif" type="image/avif"> <source srcset="photo.webp" type="image/webp"> <source srcset="photo-2x.jpg 2x, photo-1x.jpg 1x" type="image/jpeg"> <img src="/static/imghw/default1.png" data-src="photo-1x.jpg" class="lazy" alt="A beautiful landscape"> </picture>
You can also combine format fallbacks with responsive images using media
queries in <source></source>
if needed.
Basically, just remember:
Use <picture></picture>
<source></source>
<img alt="How to provide a fallback image for browsers that don't support a specific format in HTML" >
→ formats in order → solid fallback.
It's simple, reliable, and works across all modern and legacy browsers.
The above is the detailed content of How to provide a fallback image for browsers that don't support a specific format in HTML. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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