Welcome to the museum of HTML. In the early days (HTML 4.01), before modern layouts, developers used framesets to divide pages. Enter the <frameset> tag.

The <frameset> tag replaced the entire <body> element and divided the browser window into multiple sections. Each section contained a <frame> that displayed a different HTML document. It used cols or rows attributes to define the layout.

<frameset cols="50%,50%">
  <frame src="left.html">
  <frame src="right.html">
</frameset>

Unlike modern layouts, <frameset> completely replaced the <body> tag. This meant no normal HTML content could exist alongside frames. Navigation, bookmarking, and accessibility all suffered as a result.

<frameset rows="20%,80%">
  <frame src="header.html">
  <frame src="content.html">
</frameset>

However, if you try this in a modern browser like Chrome or Firefox today, framesets are deprecated. Browsers may drop support at any time. Why? Because <iframe> and modern CSS layouts replaced it.

<frameset cols="50%,50%">
  <frame src="left.html">
  <frame src="right.html">
</frameset>

Checkpoint: The <frameset> tag is considered...

<frameset cols="50%,50%">
</frameset>

So, how do we create layouts today? We use CSS Grid, Flexbox, or <iframe> for embedded content. Unlike framesets, these work within normal HTML documents and don't replace the body. They're more flexible and accessible.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;">
  <iframe src="left.html"></iframe>
  <iframe src="right.html"></iframe>
</div>

Modern layouts work within normal HTML documents, support responsive design, and don't break navigation or bookmarking. This is the standard way to create page layouts today.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;">
  <iframe src="left.html"></iframe>
  <iframe src="right.html"></iframe>
</div>

Knowing about <frameset> is important for maintaining very old legacy systems (from the 90s-2000s), but for new projects, always stick to modern CSS layouts and <iframe>.


<frameset>


<div style="display: grid;">

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GuideWelcome to the museum of HTML. In the early days (HTML 4.01), before modern layouts, developers used framesets to divide pages. Enter the <frameset> tag.

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Concept 1: Deprecation

Technologies evolve. HTML tags that are replaced by better solutions (like CSS Grid and iframe) are marked as deprecated.

System Check

What happens if you use a deprecated tag in a modern browser?

The computer crashes.It may be ignored or render incorrectly.It works perfectly forever.It is automatically converted to CSS.

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The Deprecated <frameset> Tag

Pascual Vila

Frontend Instructor & Web Historian.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, web developers used framesets to divide browser windows into multiple sections. The <frameset> tag was the container that replaced the entire <body> element and divided the page into frames.

What did it do?

The <frameset> tag replaced the <body> element entirely and divided the browser window into multiple sections using cols (columns) or rows attributes. Each section contained a <frame> tag that displayed a different HTML document. This structure made it impossible to have normal HTML content alongside frames.

Why is it gone?

Framesets had several major problems: they completely replaced the body element, broke browser navigation (back/forward buttons), made bookmarking difficult, caused severe accessibility issues, and didn't work well on mobile devices. CSS Grid, Flexbox, and <iframe> were introduced as better alternatives that work within normal HTML documents. Consequently, <frameset> and <frame> were deprecated in HTML5.

The Modern Alternative

Today, you should use CSS Grid or Flexbox for layouts, and <iframe> for embedded content:

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;">
<iframe src="left.html"></iframe>
<iframe src="right.html"></iframe>
</div>

Modern layouts work within normal HTML documents, support responsive design, and don't break navigation or bookmarking.

Historical Glossary

Frameset: An obsolete HTML tag that replaced the entire <body> element and divided the browser window into multiple sections using cols or rows attributes. Not supported in HTML5.
Frame: A deprecated tag used inside <frameset> to display separate HTML documents in different sections of a browser window.
CSS Grid: The modern replacement for framesets. A CSS layout system that creates grid-based layouts within normal HTML documents.
Deprecated: A status applied to features that are discouraged from use and may be removed in future versions.

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