Last updated on November 12, 2025

What Exactly Is an iFrame?
An iframe (short for “inline frame”) is a small piece of HTML code that lets you display another web page inside your own page. Think of it like a window that opens to another website — without the visitor having to leave yours.
For example, you can use iframes to:
- Embed a YouTube video or playlist
- Display a Google Map of your location
- Show a contact form hosted elsewhere
- Preview an external web page
Here’s a Simple iFrame Code Example
This is the most basic iframe structure you can use. It embeds a web page inside another web page.
<iframe src="https://example.com" width="600" height="400" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen loading="lazy"></iframe>
Just replace https://example.com with the actual URL you want to embed.
Important: Don’t Embed Websites Without Permission
Before you get too excited about embedding everything you find online, here’s something you need to know — you can’t just iframe any website you like.
Some sites block iframe embedding for security or copyright reasons. If you try to embed them, they either won’t display, or worse, you could violate the website’s terms of use. So always check whether the website allows it. Platforms like YouTube and Google Maps specifically offer iframe-friendly embed options — which means they’re safe to use.
How to Customize Your iFrame
Once you’ve got the basic code, you can easily tweak it to fit your design. Here are a few ways to customize:
- Width and height: Change
width="600"orheight="400"to adjust size. - Border: Add
style="border:1px solid #ccc;"if you want a border, orborder:0;for none. - Fullscreen: Use
allowfullscreenif it’s a video or map that supports fullscreen viewing. - Lazy loading: Add
loading="lazy"to improve page speed (it only loads when needed).
When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use an iFrame
To be fair, iframes are super useful — but they’re not perfect. They work great for trusted sources like YouTube or Google, but you shouldn’t rely on them for everything.
Use iframes when:
- You’re embedding safe, public content (like videos or maps).
- The source site officially allows embedding.
- You want to keep visitors on your site while showing another resource.
Avoid iframes when:
- The external content could change or disappear at any time.
- The site doesn’t give you permission to embed it.
- You’re dealing with sensitive or private information.
Embedding from Trusted Sources
Here are some trusted platforms that actually encourage embedding with iframes:
- YouTube – for videos
- Google Maps – for locations
- Canva – for design presentations (some share links allow embedding)
- Spotify – for playlists and songs
Each of these platforms provides an “Embed” or “Share” option with pre-made iframe code. Just copy it, paste it into your website, and you’re good to go.
Final Thoughts
Iframes are one of those things that look complicated until you realize it’s literally just one line of code. Once you understand how it works — and where it’s appropriate to use — you can make your web pages far more dynamic and interactive.
Just remember: always respect content ownership and only embed what’s meant to be shared. That’s not just good web etiquette — it’s the right thing to do.
Alright, that’s it for now. I hope this helped you feel a little more confident using iframe code. It’s such a small piece of HTML, but honestly, it opens up a whole world of creativity once you know how to use it right.