The ability for a web developer to embed one particular HTML document within another one is know as an inline frame or which it is most commonly referred to; iFrame. This HTML tag and while the main website loads first, it appears as if both pages are only a single page. In most cases, when the frame is smaller than the page being loaded, the frame will create its own scrollbar to allow you to see all of the content.
In web development, the implementation of frames can be seen in a number of fashions including that of the table as well as the division. However, these structures of the HTML code will not allow the inclusion of another webpage or any document for that matter outside of the sites own domain. The iFrame does allow this and is used to load all sorts of things from images to advertisements. For anyone that uses Yahoo! mail, you will find that the control panel is built using an iFrame.
Furthermore, by using JavaScript or anchor tags, you are even able to load a new frame without having to completely reload the entire webpage. This can be very helpful when it comes to reducing the amount of bandwidth used by the server. Today, it is a commonly used tool for persons in the Affiliate Marketing arena who will create a 1 pixel by 1 pixel iFrame to their affiliate program so that the visitor to that page gets a cookie and they get paid for any sales. This is also known as cookie stuffing in which upon visiting a website you are receiving a cookie to another site like Amazon and when you make a purchase the webmaster makes money irregardless of whether he or she even discusses the item you bought on their website.
Perhaps the most hilarious part of this concept is that in some cases the marketeer has no idea what is even going on. They thought they were doing something that is known as an invisible popup, but within only a few weeks, Google completely de-indexes their site due to malicious activities.
Using the same principals, a great number of hackers and virus developers make use of iFrames to spread their creations all over the net. While the iFrame does serve its purpose in the cases in which the frame can be seen, it is when you have no clue that there is even a frame there that you should worry. You cannot always tell they are there either simply by looking at the source code of the page because they can be written in percent encryption using the JavaScript scripting language.
Original Authors: Nick
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 30/01/2009
