HTML frameset tag: How to Divide Your Web Page Easily

Varun Saharawat31 Jan, 2026

The HTML frameset tag was a way to divide a web window into many smaller parts. Each part could show a different web page at the same time. You used it to tell the computer how many rows or columns of boxes you wanted. However, modern websites do not use it anymore because it makes things hard to read on phones.

Simple Guide to the HTML frameset tag

If you are looking for an HTML frameset tag for beginners, think of a window in your house. A window can have four glass panes. Each pane lets you see something different. The HTML frameset tag was the wooden frame that held those different panes of glass together on a computer screen.

What is a Frame?

A frame is just a box on your screen. Instead of having one giant page for your story, you could have a small box on the left for a menu and a big box on the right for the pictures. This is part of the HTML frameset tag explained for kids: it is like a divider for your screen.

Rows: These are like the lines on your notebook paper (up and down).
Columns: These are like the tall buildings in a city (side by side).
The Frame: Each box needs a separate file to show inside it.

Why was it used?

In the old days of the internet, people used the HTML frameset tag to keep certain parts of the site from moving. If you clicked a link in one box, only that box would change. The top part with the name of the site would stay exactly where it was.

HTML frameset tag Tutorial

This HTML frameset tag tutorial will show you the basic parts of the code. Even though we don't use it much today, it is fun to see how the internet used to work. To make a frameset, you did not use the regular <body> tag. Instead, the frameset took its place.

The "Cols" and "Rows" Rules

To tell the HTML frameset tag how to split the screen, you used two special words:

Cols: This stands for columns. If you wrote cols="25%, 75%", the screen would split into a small left box and a big right box.
Rows: If you wrote rows="50%, 50%", the screen would split exactly in half, with a top box and a bottom box.

HTML frameset tag Guide Table

Word	What it Does	Simple Example
Cols	Makes vertical boxes.	Splits screen like a fridge door.
Rows	Makes horizontal boxes.	Splits screen like a bunk bed.
Border	Sets the line thickness.	Makes the lines between boxes thicker.
Frame	The actual page inside.	The "stuff" inside the box.

HTML frameset tag Step by Step

Let’s look at an HTML frameset tag step by step plan to build a page with three columns. This is like building a set of lockers for your friends.

Start the Code: You start with the <frameset> tag instead of the body tag.
Choose the Split: Tell the computer how wide each box should be. We will use cols="33%, 33%, 34%".
Add the Pages: Use the <frame> tag to tell each box which file to show.
Add a Message: Use the <noframes> tag. This is for old computers that can't show frames. It's like a "Sorry" note.
Close the Tag: Finish with </frameset>.

HTML frameset tag how to use

To know HTML frameset tag how to use it, you must have other files ready. If you have a box for "Menu" and a box for "Main," you need to make a file called menu.html and a file called main.html first. The frameset is just the "glue" that holds them together on the screen.

HTML frameset tag with Examples

Let's see some HTML frameset tag with examples to understand the layout. Imagine we want a website that looks like a T-shirt.

Example: The Header and Two Columns

This is a very common HTML frameset tag use cases example.

Top Box (Row): This holds the title of the website.
Bottom Left (Column): This holds the links to other pages.
Bottom Right (Column): This holds the story or the game.

The Code Example

If you look at an HTML frameset tag tutorial, the code would look like this: <frameset rows="150, *"> <frame src="header.html"> <frameset cols="20%, 80%"> <frame src="menu.html"> <frame src="main.html"> </frameset> </frameset> The "" means "use the rest of the space." It is like saying "I'll take one slice of pizza, and you can have the rest!"*

HTML frameset tag Best Practices

Even though the HTML frameset tag is very old, there are still HTML frameset tag best practices to remember if you find it in an old project.

Why it is not used today

Today, we use things called "divs" or "grids." Here is why the frameset tag retired:

Bad for Phones: Frames don't shrink well on small phone screens.
Hard to Print: If you try to print a page with frames, the printer gets confused about which box to print.
Search Problems: Sites like Google find it hard to read pages hidden inside frames.

Helpful Tips for Old Code

Use Noframes: Always include a message for people who can't see the boxes.
Name Your Frames: Give each frame a name like name="content". This helps links know where to open.
Keep it Simple: Don't put too many boxes on one screen, or it will look like a messy puzzle.

HTML frameset tag Explained: The Final Word

In this HTML frameset tag explained guide, we learned that frames were the first way to make a layout. They were like the training wheels on a bicycle. They helped us learn how to balance a web page before we got the bigger, faster bikes we use today.

Learning from the Past

Understanding the HTML frameset tag helps you understand how the web grew up. It shows that people always wanted a way to keep things organized. Even if we use different tags now, the goal is still the same: making a page that is easy for people to use and look at.

Real-life Comparison

Think of the HTML frameset tag like an old school bus. It was great for moving a lot of kids at once, but today we have fancy cars with screens and air conditioning. The old bus still works, but it isn't the best way to travel anymore!

FAQs

Can I use a body tag with a frameset?

No. If you use a <body> tag, the computer will ignore your <frameset>. You have to pick one or the other.

What is the "noresize" word?

If you add noresize to a frame, it means the person looking at the page cannot grab the edge of the box and change its size. It locks the box in place.