Value
The commonly understood rationale for frame pages, simplifying web site and web page navigation, has a widely used replacement within CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). However, where many have seen this as the only useful rationale for frame pages, there are other more important reasons for side-by-side display of web pages and media and the incorporation of such design within HTML code, not in some separate coding stored in yet another web file.
The common rationale for the creation of a frameset (e.g., using two or more web pages or media elements) is for the purpose of simplifying navigation and the editing of the navigation data. If an item needs to be added to a sidebar navigation menu, the web page author needs to change only one web page file, whereas each individual page on a traditional non-frameset website would have to be edited if the sidebar menu appeared on all of them. In a frameset, each frame displays a different HTML document. Frames containing headers and sidebar menus do not move when data targeted to content frames is viewed or scrolled up and down. More importantly for users, the data for web page navigation is transmitted only once, which makes for faster web page display for readers and reduces the data transmission load on the Internet, in contrast to CSS which must resend the navigation data for every page that needs it.
A more powerful rationale for the parallel display of frame elements is their use in making comparisons. When items are compared, it is often useful to place them side by side. This might include the side-by-side comparison of two pictures or videos. Another form of comparison provides a way to compare two different ways to understand something, such as putting descriptive information alongside the element or elements being viewed and used, such as an independently scrolling page of text next to video, images, animation, 3D rotating objects, etc. This design is also useful for putting footnote and reference information alongside the paragraph that is citing a reference, a reference which can contain a link providing immediate alongside display of the actual source of the information. Further, many web page elements are interactive, so description of and directions for manipulation of interactive elements in the parallel frame or frames can easily be followed. In addition, web page readers can be concerned that they will lose their place on one web page as they follow related links, but display in a frameset side page keeps the reader's paragraph or original display of information in constant view. In short, the frameset model can be used to improve the readability and therefore comprehension of an author's compositions, especially more complex ideas.
Read more about this topic: Framing (World Wide Web)
Famous quotes containing the word value:
“And those handmade presents that children often bring home from school: They have so much value! The value is that the child put whatever he or she could into making them. The way we parents respond to the giving of such gifts is very important. To the child the gift is really self, and they want so much for their selves to be acceptable, to be loved.”
—Fred Rogers (20th century)