---
title: Images
category: features
---

{@snippet features/build-image-source}

The [`@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image) package contains multiple plugins that implement various image-related features:

* {@link module:image/image~Image} implements [basic support for images](#base-image-support).
* {@link module:image/imagetoolbar~ImageToolbar} adds the image feature's [contextual toolbar](#image-contextual-toolbar).
* {@link module:image/imagecaption~ImageCaption} adds support for [captions](#image-captions).
* {@link module:image/imagestyle~ImageStyle} adds support for [image styles](#image-styles).
* {@link module:image/imagetextalternative~ImageTextAlternative} adds support for adding text alternative.
* {@link module:image/imageupload~ImageUpload} adds support for {@link features/image-upload uploading dropped or pasted images}.
* {@link module:image/imageinsert~ImageInsert} adds support for [inserting images via URL](#inserting-images-via-source-url) and other custom integrations.
* {@link module:image/imageresize~ImageResize} adds support for [resizing images](#resizing-images).
* {@link module:link/linkimage~LinkImage} adds support for [linking images](#linking-images).

<info-box info>
	All features listed above except image resizing and image linking are enabled by default in all CKEditor 5 WYSIWYG editor builds.

	Check the documentation of each subfeature to learn more about it.
</info-box>

## Base image support

The {@link module:image/image~Image} feature adds support for plain images with just the `alt` attribute set. This translates to the following HTML:

```html
<figure class="image">
	<img src="..." alt="...">
</figure>
```

<info-box hint>
	This feature follows the markup proposed by the [Editor Recommendations](https://ckeditor.github.io/editor-recommendations/features/image.html) project.
</info-box>

You can see the demo of a WYSIWYG editor with the base image feature enabled below:

{@snippet features/image}

<info-box hint>
	The base image feature, unlike in CKEditor 4, does not support any user interface for inserting or managing images. Its sole purpose is to lay ground for other plugins (mentioned above) to build the target user experience. This pattern (composition of atomic features) is common for CKEditor 5 and allows the developers to build their own customized experience by implementing specific subfeatures differently.
</info-box>

## Image contextual toolbar

The {@link module:image/imagetoolbar~ImageToolbar} plugin introduces a contextual toolbar for images. The toolbar appears when an image is selected and can be configured to contain any buttons you want. Usually, these will be image-related options such as the text alternative button (a feature introduced by the base image plugin) and [image styles buttons](#image-styles).

See a demo of a WYSIWYG editor with the contextual toolbar enabled:

{@snippet features/image-toolbar}

The image toolbar is configured to contain the image text alternative button:

```js
ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		image: {
			toolbar: [ 'imageTextAlternative' ]
		}
	} )
```

## Image captions

The {@link module:image/imagecaption~ImageCaption} plugin adds support for image captions:

```html
<figure class="image">
	<img src="..." alt="...">
	<figcaption>A caption goes here...</figcaption>
</figure>
```

By default, if the image caption is empty, the `<figcaption>` element is not visible to the user. You can click the image to reveal the caption field and write one. See the demo below:

<info-box hint>
	You can change the placement of the image caption by setting [`caption-side`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/caption-side) in your {@link builds/guides/integration/content-styles content styles} for the `.ck-content .image > figcaption` style. Changing it to `caption-side: top` will display the caption above the image.
</info-box>

## Image upload

See the {@link features/image-upload Image upload} guide.

## Inserting images via source URL

Besides the ability to insert images by uploading them directly from your disk or via CKFinder, you can also configure CKEditor 5 to allow inserting images via source URL.

In order to enable this option, install the `ImageInsert` plugin and add the `imageInsert` button to the toolbar (it replaces the standard `imageUpload` button).

```js
import ImageInsert from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imageinsert';

ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		plugins: [ ... , ImageInsert ],
		toolbar: [ ... , 'imageInsert' ]
	} )
```

This will add a new **Insert image** dropdown in the toolbar. To open the panel and add the image URL, click the arrow next to the image button. Check the demo below to insert a new image via URL or update an existing image by selecting it, opening the dropdown panel and pasting a new URL.

{@snippet features/image-insert-via-url}

## Responsive images

Support for responsive images in CKEditor 5 is brought by the {@link features/easy-image Easy Image} feature without any additional configuration. Refer to the {@link features/easy-image#responsive-images Easy Image integration} guide to learn how to use the feature in your project.

## Image styles

In simple integrations it is enough to let the user insert images, set their text alternative and the editor's job is done. An example of such a simple solution are, for example, [GitHub](https://github.com/) comments. The styling of the images (for example, their maximum width and margins) is controlled by GitHub through stylesheets.

In more advanced scenarios, the user may need to be able to decide about the image's width. Should it take up the whole width (if it is the article's main photo) or should it take up, for example, 50% of the width and be pulled out of the content (so called "pulled images")? Various integration scenarios require different types of images to be used.

Finally, in certain situations, the user should be able to granularly control how an image is presented thanks to the ability to set the size and alignment separately.

The {@link module:image/imagestyle~ImageStyle} feature solves the last two scenarios. The former is handled by so-called ["semantical styles"](#semantical-styles) and the latter by ["presentational styles"](#presentational-styles) in combination with the [image resize](#resizing-images) feature.

The available image styles can be configured using the {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#styles `config.image.styles`} option. Respective buttons should also be added to the image toolbar via {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#toolbar `config.image.toolbar`}.

### Semantical styles

A semantical style lets the user choose from predefined "types" of images. The user is not able to set the image border, alignment, margins, width, etc. separately. Instead, they can pick one of the styles defined by the developer who prepared the WYSIWYG editor integration. This gives the developer control over how the users style their images and makes the user's life easier by setting multiple properties at once.

A style is applied to the image in form of a class. By default, CKEditor 5 is configured to support two default semantical styles: **"full width"** (which does not apply any class &mdash; it is the default style) and **"side image"** (which applies the `image-style-side` class).

A normal (full width) image:

```html
<figure class="image"><img src="..." alt="..."></figure>
```

A side image:

```html
<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="..." alt="..."></figure>
```

<info-box>
	The actual styling of the images is the integrator's job. CKEditor 5 WYSIWYG editor comes with some default styles, but they will only be applied to the images inside the editor. The integrator needs to style them appropriately on the target pages.

	You can find the source of the default styles applied by the editor here: [`ckeditor5-image/theme/imagestyle.css`](https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor5/blob/master/packages/ckeditor5-image/theme/imagestyle.css).

	Read more about {@link builds/guides/integration/content-styles styling the content of the editor}.
</info-box>

Below you can find a demo of the WYSIWYG editor with the semantical image styles. The "full" and "side" styles are the default value of {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#styles `config.image.styles`} so you do not need to set it.

```js
ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		plugins: [ Image, ImageToolbar, ImageCaption, ImageStyle ],
		image: {
			toolbar: [
				'imageStyle:full',
				'imageStyle:side',
				'|',
				'imageTextAlternative'
			],

			// The default value.
			styles: [
				'full',
				'side'
			]
		}
	} )
	.then( ... )
	.catch( ... );
```

See the result in the WYSIWYG editor below. You can change the style of an image through the image's contextual toolbar.

{@snippet features/image-style}

<info-box hint>
	Try to understand what use cases the system needs to support and define semantic options accordingly. Defining useful and clear styles is one of the steps towards a good user experience and clear, portable output. For example, the "side image" style can be displayed as a floated image on wide screens and as a normal image on low resolution screens (e.g. mobile browsers).
</info-box>

<info-box warning>
	While semantical styles can be combined with manual [image resizing](#resizing-images), these features were not designed to be used together.

	If you want to enable image resizing, use [presentational image styles](#presentational-styles).
</info-box>

### Presentational styles

Presentational styles do not add any special meaning to the content. They directly control the visual aspect of an image.

Currently, the available presentational styles are "align center", "align left" and "align right".

<info-box warning>
	Presentational image styles should be combined with the optional [image resize feature](#resizing-images) as these features were designed to be used together. The image width is then controlled by the image resize feature.

	If you do not enable the image resize feature in your setup using the default presentational styles, your images will always take up 100% of the editor width so the alignment may not be visible.

	If you do not want to enable image resizing, use [semantical image styles](#semantical-styles).
</info-box>

```js
ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		image: {
			// Configure the available styles.
			styles: [
				'alignLeft', 'alignCenter', 'alignRight'
			],

			// Configure the available image resize options.
			resizeOptions: [
				{
					name: 'imageResize:original',
					label: 'Original',
					value: null
				},
				{
					name: 'imageResize:50',
					label: '50%',
					value: '50'
				},
				{
					name: 'imageResize:75',
					label: '75%',
					value: '75'
				}
			],

			// You need to configure the image toolbar, too, so it shows the new style
			// buttons as well as the resize buttons.
			toolbar: [
				'imageStyle:alignLeft', 'imageStyle:alignCenter', 'imageStyle:alignRight',
				'|',
				'imageResize',
				'|',
				'imageTextAlternative'
			]
		}
	} )
	.then( ... )
	.catch( ... );
```

The code sample above uses predefined presentational image styles: `'alignLeft'`, `'alignCenter'` and `'alignRight'`. They apply, respectively, the `.image-style-align-left`, `.image-style-align-center` and  `.image-style-align-right` classes to the `<figure>` element.

In addition to that, the sample is configured to use the [image resize feature](#resizing-images) with three {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#resizeOptions resize options} available: `'imageResize:original'`, `'imageResize:50'` and `'imageResize:75'`. They allow you to set the image width in the editor to the original image size, 50% and 75%, respectively.

See the result below:

{@snippet features/image-style-presentational}

### Defining custom styles

Besides using the {@link module:image/imagestyle/utils~defaultStyles five predefined styles}:

* `'full'`,
* `'side'`,
* `'alignLeft'`,
* `'alignCenter'`,
* `'alignRight'`

you can also define your own styles or modify the existing ones.

<info-box>
	Reusing (or modifying) predefined styles has the following advantage: CKEditor 5 will use its official translations for the defined button titles.
</info-box>

You can find advanced examples in the {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#styles `config.image.styles`} configuration option documentation.

<!-- TODO (live example)... not today, yet -->

## Resizing images

The [image styles](#image-styles) feature is meant to give the user a choice between a set of styling options provided by the system (i.e. by the developer or administrator who created it). There are also scenarios where the user should be able to freely set the width of an image. And that is where the image resize feature comes into play. It is implemented by the {@link module:image/imageresize~ImageResize} plugin.

### Methods to resize images

The editor offers different ways to resize images either by using "resize handles" or by using dedicated UI components &mdash; either a dropdown or standalone buttons.

The {@link module:image/imageresize~ImageResize} plugin enables the four resize handles displayed over the selected image. The user can freely resize the image by dragging them. The feature can be configured to use either percentage (default) or pixel values.

The plugin also gives you an ability to change the size of the image through the on-click image toolbar. You can set an optional static configuration with {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#resizeOptions} and choose whether you want to use a dropdown or a set of standalone buttons.

#### Using resize handles

In this case, the user is able to resize images by dragging square handles displayed in each corner of the image. Once [image resizing is enabled](#enabling-image-resizing), this option does not require any additional configuration.

{@snippet features/image-resize}

You can configure resizing images by handles in two different ways in the CKEditor 5 WYSIWYG editor:

* Either by installing the {@link module:image/imageresize~ImageResize} plugin, which contains **all** needed features (`ImageResizeEditing`, `ImageResizeHandles`, `ImageResizeButtons`):

```js
import Image from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/image';
import ImageResize from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imageresize';

ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		plugins: [ Image, ImageResize, ... ],
		...
	} )
	.then( ... )
	.catch( ... );
```

* Or by installing the combination of {@link module:image/imageresize/imageresizeediting~ImageResizeEditing} and {@link module:image/imageresize/imageresizehandles~ImageResizeHandles} plugins:

```js
import Image from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/image';
import ImageResizeEditing from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imageresize/imageresizeediting';
import ImageResizeHandles from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imageresize/imageresizehandles';

ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		plugins: [ Image, ImageResizeEditing, ImageResizeHandles, ... ],
		...
	} )
	.then( ... )
	.catch( ... );
```

Both ways enable resize handles by default.

#### Using resize dropdown

In this case, the user is able to choose from a set of predefined options. These options can be displayed in form of a dropdown in the image toolbar available after the user clicks the image.

To use this option, you need to [enable image resizing](#enabling-image-resizing) and configure the available {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#resizeOptions resize options}. Then add the dropdown to the image toolbar configuration.

```js
const imageConfiguration = {
	resizeOptions: [
		{
			name: 'imageResize:original',
			value: null,
			label: 'Original'
		},
		{
			name: 'imageResize:50',
			value: '50',
			label: '50%'
		},
		{
			name: 'imageResize:75',
			value: '75',
			label: '75%'
		}
	],
	toolbar: [ ..., 'imageResize' ]
}
```

Try out the live demo of the resize dropdown available in the image toolbar below.

{@snippet features/image-resize-buttons-dropdown}

#### Using standalone resize buttons

In this case, the resize options are displayed in the form of separate buttons. The benefit of this solution is the smoothest UX as the user needs just one click to resize an image.

To use this option, you need to [enable image resizing](#enabling-image-resizing) and configure the available {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#resizeOptions resize options}. Then add appropriate buttons to the image toolbar configuration.

```js
const imageConfiguration = {
	resizeOptions: [
		{
			name: 'imageResize:original',
			value: null,
			icon: 'original'
		},
		{
			name: 'imageResize:50',
			value: '50',
			icon: 'medium'
		},
		{
			name: 'imageResize:75',
			value: '75',
			icon: 'large'
		}
	],
	toolbar: [
		...,
		'imageResize:50',
		'imageResize:75'
		'imageResize:original',
	]
}
```
Try out the live demo of the individual resize buttons available in the image toolbar below:

{@snippet features/image-resize-buttons}

### Disabling image resize handles

If, for some reason, you want to configure the editor in such a way that images can be resized only by buttons, you can do so by omitting the {@link module:image/imageresize/imageresizehandles~ImageResizeHandles `ImageResizeHandles`} plugin.

As a result, your plugin setup should look like this: `plugins: [ 'ImageResizeEditing', 'ImageResizeButtons', ... ]` as opposed to `plugins: [ 'ImageResize', ... ]`.

This will enable the image resize feature only by means of the chosen UI: either a [dropdown](#using-resize-dropdown) or [standalone buttons](#using-standalone-resize-buttons)) in the image toolbar.

```js
import Image from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/image';
import ImageToolbar from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imagetoolbar';
import ImageResizeEditing from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imageresize/imageresizeedititing';
import ImageResizeButtons from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imageresize/imageresizebuttons';

ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		plugins: [ Image, ImageResizeEditing, ImageResizeButtons, ImageToolbar, ... ],
		image: {
			resizeOptions: [
			{
				name: 'imageResize:original',
				value: null,
				icon: 'original'
			},
			{
				name: 'imageResize:50',
				value: '50',
				icon: 'medium'
			},
			{
				name: 'imageResize:75',
				value: '75',
				icon: 'large'
			}
		],
		toolbar: [
			// ...,
			'imageResize:50',
			'imageResize:75',
			'imageResize:original',
		]
		}
	} )
	.then( ... )
	.catch( ... );
```

### Enabling image resizing

The image resize feature is not enabled by default in any of the editor builds. In order to enable it, you need to load the {@link module:image/imageresize~ImageResize} plugin. Read more in the [Installation](#installation) section.

### Markup and styling

When you resize an image, the inline `width` style is used and the `<figure>` element is assigned the `image_resized` class:

```html
<figure class="image image_resized" style="width: 75%;">
	<img src="..." alt="...">
</figure>
```

The `image_resized` class is used to disable `max-width` assigned by the [image styles](#image-styles) if one is applied to this image. For instance, the "side image" style is defined like this:

```css
.ck-content .image-style-side {
	max-width: 50%;
	float: right;
	margin-left: var(--ck-image-style-spacing);
}
```

And the `max-width` gets overridden by the following rule:

```css
.ck-content .image.image_resized {
	max-width: 100%;
}
```

Another concern when styling resized images is that by default, CKEditor 5 uses `display: table` on `<figure class="image">` elements to make it take up the size of the `<img>` element inside it. Unfortunately, [browsers do not yet support using `max-width` and `width` on the same element if it is styled with `display: table`](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4019604/chrome-safari-ignoring-max-width-in-table/14420691#14420691). Therefore, `display: block` needs to be used when the image is resized:

```css
.ck-content .image.image_resized {
	display: block;
	box-sizing: border-box;
}

.ck-content .image.image_resized img {
	width: 100%;
}

.ck-content .image.image_resized > figcaption {
	display: block;
}
```

### Using pixels instead of percentage width

Using percentage widths ensures that the content stays responsive when displayed in places other than the WYSIWYG editor. When the user made an image take up, for example, 60% of the content's width in the editor, if you ever change the width of the target page (where this content is displayed), the image will still take up 60% of that space. The same is true if the page is responsive and adjusts to the viewport's width.

If you configured the editor to use pixel values, the image could take up, for example, too much space after you introduced a new layout for your website.

However, there are cases where pixel values may be preferred. You can thus configure the editor to use them by setting the {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#resizeUnit `config.image.resizeUnit`} option:

```js
ClassicEditor
	.create( editorElement, {
		image: {
			resizeUnit: 'px'
		}
	} )
	.then( ... )
	.catch( ... );
```

Check out the difference in the live demo below:

{@snippet features/image-resize-px}

## Linking images

The {@link module:link/linkimage~LinkImage} plugin adds support for linking images. Some use cases where this could be useful are:

* Linking to a high-resolution version of an image.
* Using images as thumbnails linking to an article or product page.
* Creating banners linking to other pages.

The image link can be added or edited via the image toolbar. An icon in top right corner of the image indicates the presence of a link.

```html
<figure class="image">
	<a href="...">
		<img src="..." alt="...">
	</a>
	<figcaption>Image caption</figcaption>
</figure>
```
Use the link icon in the image toolbar to access the edit options for links on image.

{@snippet features/image-link}

### Enabling image linking

The image linking feature is not enabled by default in any of the editor builds. In order to enable it, you need to load the {@link module:link/linkimage~LinkImage} plugin. Read more in the [Installation](#installation) section.

<info-box info>
	The {@link module:link/linkimage~LinkImage} plugin is available in the {@link api/link `@ckeditor/ckeditor5-link`} package.
</info-box>

## Installation

To add image features to your rich-text editor, install the [`@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image) package:

```plaintext
npm install --save @ckeditor/ckeditor5-image @ckeditor/ckeditor5-link
```

Next add the plugins that you need to your plugin list. You also need to set the desired image toolbar items.

```js
import Image from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/image';
import ImageToolbar from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imagetoolbar';
import ImageCaption from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imagecaption';
import ImageStyle from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imagestyle';
import ImageResize from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/imageresize';
import LinkImage from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-link/src/linkimage';

ClassicEditor
	.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
		plugins: [ Image, ImageToolbar, ImageCaption, ImageStyle, ImageResize, LinkImage ],
		image: {
			toolbar: [
				'imageStyle:full',
				'imageStyle:side',
				'|',
				'imageTextAlternative',
				'|',
				'linkImage'
			]
		}
	} )
	.then( ... )
	.catch( ... );
```

<info-box info>
	Read more about {@link builds/guides/integration/installing-plugins installing plugins}.
</info-box>

## Common API

The {@link module:image/image~Image} plugin registers:

* The `'imageTextAlternative'` button.
* The {@link module:image/imagetextalternative/imagetextalternativecommand~ImageTextAlternativeCommand `'imageTextAlternative'` command}
* The {@link module:image/image/imageinsertcommand~ImageInsertCommand `'imageInsert'` command} that accepts a source (e.g. a URL) of an image to insert.

The {@link module:image/imagestyle~ImageStyle} plugin registers:

* A button for each defined style, for example: `'imageStyle:full'` and `'imageStyle:side'`.
* The {@link module:image/imagestyle/imagestylecommand~ImageStyleCommand `'imageStyle'` command} that accepts a value based on the {@link module:image/image~ImageConfig#styles `image.styles`} configuration option (for example, `'full'` and `'side'`):

	```js
	editor.execute( 'imageStyle', { value: 'side' } );
	```

The {@link module:image/imageupload~ImageUpload} plugin registers:

* The `'imageUpload'` button that opens the native file browser to let you upload a file directly from your disk.
* The {@link module:image/imageupload/imageuploadcommand~ImageUploadCommand `'imageUpload'` command} that accepts the file to upload.

The {@link module:image/imageresize~ImageResize} plugin registers:

* The {@link module:image/imageresize/imageresizecommand~ImageResizeCommand `'imageResize'` command} that accepts the target width.

<info-box>
	We recommend using the official {@link framework/guides/development-tools#ckeditor-5-inspector CKEditor 5 inspector} for development and debugging. It will give you tons of useful information about the state of the editor such as internal data structures, selection, commands, and many more.
</info-box>

## Contribute

The source code of the feature is available on GitHub in https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor5/tree/master/packages/ckeditor5-image.
