Template:Multiple image/doc

This is a documentation subpage for Template:Multiple image.
It may contain usage information, categories and other content that is not part of the original template page.

This template is used on approximately 58,000 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

Shortcut

{{mim}}

This template uses Lua:

Module:Multiple image (sandbox)

This template uses TemplateStyles:

Template:Multiple image/styles.css (sandbox)

This template creates a box containing between two and ten images, arranged either vertically or horizontally and with captions for the entire box or per image.

With the appropriate choice of parameters, the template can automatically resize images to a given total width with each image having the same height.

Be aware that this template does not respect users' default image size preferences. (Wikipedia:Image use policy states: "Except with very good reason, do not use px"... "which forces a fixed image width." MOS:IMGSIZE states that a fixed width in pixels may only be specified, "Where absolutely necessary.")^[a]

If image size parameters are omitted, this template sets all images at 200px wide, regardless of whether the reader has set a preference for some other default image width. This causes multiple images to look out of scale to the other images in an article.

Syntax and parameters

Provide |height[n]= and |total_width= parameters to obtain automatic resizing. Note the different meanings of the |width[n]= parameters with vs. without automatic resizing. Please also note the option to set a |total_width= parameter at the beginning of the {{multiple image}} template.

Automatic resizing of all images to the same height and to a given total width

{{Multiple image|total_width = 600
<!-- Layout parameters -->
| align             = <!-- right (default), left, center, none --> 
| direction         = <!-- horizontal (default), vertical -->
| background color  = <!-- box background as a 'hex triplet' web color prefixed by # e.g. #33CC00 -->
| width             = <!-- displayed width of each image in pixels (an integer, omit "px" suffix); overrides "width[n]"s below -->
| caption_align     = <!-- left (default), center, right --> 
| image_style       = <!-- border:1; (default) -->
| image_gap         = <!-- 5 (default)-->

<!-- Header -->
| header_background = <!-- header background as a 'hex triplet' web color prefixed by # e.g. #33CC00 -->
| header_align      = <!-- center (default), left, right -->
| header            = <!-- header text -->

<!--image 1-->
| image1            = <!-- filename only, i.e. without "File:" or "Image:" prefix -->
| width1            = <!-- displayed width of image; overridden by "width" above -->
| alt1              = 
| link1             = 
| thumbtime1        =
| caption1          = 
<!--image 2-->
| image2            = <!-- filename only, i.e. without "File:" or "Image:" prefix -->
| width2            = <!-- displayed width of image; overridden by "width" above -->
| alt2              = 
| link2             = 
| thumbtime2        =
| caption2          = 
<!-- and so on -->

<!-- Footer -->
| footer_background = <!-- footer background as a 'hex triplet' web color prefixed by # e.g. #33CC00 -->
| footer_align      = <!-- left (default), center, right -->
| footer            = <!-- footer text -->
}}

No automatic resizing of all images to the same height

{{multiple image
<!-- Layout parameters -->
 | align             = <!-- right (default), left, center, none --> 
 | direction         = <!-- horizontal (default), vertical -->
 | background color  = <!-- box background -->
 | total_width       = <!-- total width of all the displayed images in pixels (an integer, omit "px" suffix) -->
 | caption_align     = <!-- left (default), center, right --> 

<!-- Header -->
 | header_background = 
 | header_align      = <!-- center (default), left, right -->
 | header            = 

<!--image 1-->
 | image1            = <!-- filename only, i.e. without "File:" or "Image:" prefix -->
 | alt1              = 
 | link1             = 
 | thumbtime1        =
 | caption1          = 
<!--image 2-->
 | image2            = <!-- filename only, i.e. without "File:" or "Image:" prefix -->
 | alt2              = 
 | link2             = 
 | thumbtime2        =
 | caption2          = 
<!-- and so on -->

<!-- Footer -->
 | footer_background = 
 | footer_align      = <!-- left (default), center, right -->
 | footer            = 
}}

Parameter	Description
align	right (default), left, center
direction	horizontal (default), vertical
background color	To set the background color of the box in which the images appear.
header_background
header_align	center (default), left, right
header
width	Use to set the same width for each image (i.e. overrides any width[n] below). Do not include if different image widths intended, including if images are to be resized to a fixed total width.
total_width	Use to scale the images to the same height and this total width. Do not use both total_width and width.
image[n]	(where [n] = 1 to 10) Filename of [n]th image.
width[n]	(as above) Two meanings: (1) The width (in pixels, integer, omit "px") of [n]th image. Overridden by width (if set). (2) The full width of the original [n]th image if total_width is given in order to resize all images to the same height and a given total width.
height[n]	(as above) The full height of the original [n]th image if total_width is given in order to resize all images to the same height and a given total width. Ignored otherwise.
alt[n]	(as above) Alt description for [n]th image.
link[n]	(as above) The page linked to the [n]th image (i.e. the page that is loaded when the image is clicked). If this parameter is omitted altogether, the image will link to its image description page as usual (this is by far the most common usage case). If this parameter is present but left empty (i.e. ...\|link1= \|...), the image will not link to anything – this should be the case only for purely decorative images per WP:ALT. Important: If the image is under a free license (such as the GDFL or a free CC license), the terms of such license require the license, or a link to it, to be reproduced with the image. The image must, therefore, link to its image description page, which can be achieved simply by omitting the link[n] parameter from the template as mentioned. Public domain and (theoretically) non-free use images are not subject to this restriction.
thumbtime[n]	(as above) When using video files, sets the time within the video that is used for the initial display. This is either a number of seconds or hours:minutes:seconds; see commons:Commons:Video#Setting a video thumbnail image.
caption[n]	(as above) Caption for the [n]th image.
caption_align	left (default), center, right
footer_background
footer_align	left (default), center, right
footer	Caption that spans the entire box, as opposed to individual images. Avoid "left" and "right" if possible, since mobile devices may display the images vertically.

Examples

Players are cautioned with a yellow card and sent off with a red card.

{{multiple image
 | width = 60
 | image1 = Yellow card.svg
 | alt1 = Yellow cartouche
 | image2 = Red card.svg
 | alt2 = Red cartouche
 | footer = Players are cautioned with a yellow card and sent off with a red card.
}}

PNG transparency demonstration

A PNG image with an 8-bit transparency layer...

...here overlaying a checkered background.

{{multiple image
 | align = left
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 200
 | header = [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] transparency demonstration
 | image1 = PNG transparency demonstration 1.png
 | alt1 = Colored dice with white background
 | caption1 = A PNG image with an 8-bit transparency layer...
 | image2 = PNG transparency demonstration 2.png
 | alt2 = Colored dice with checkered background
 | caption2 = ...here overlaying a checkered background.
}}

When a user has many of one type of barnstar, they can represent them with ribbons and these numerals to indicate the count.

{{multiple image
 | width = 60
 | image1=Ribbon numeral 2.png | alt1=2
 | image2=Ribbon numeral 3.png | alt2=3
 | image3=Ribbon numeral 4.png | alt3=4
 | footer = When a user has many of one type of [[WP:BARN|barnstar]], they can represent them with [[WP:RIBBON|ribbons]] and these numerals to indicate the count.
}}

With background color

{{multiple image
 | align = left
 | background color = #BBDD99
 | width = 160
 | image1 = Adoxa_moschatellina_210406.jpg
 | alt1 = Green herb with a few tiny yellow-white flowers
 | image2 = Adoxa_moschatellina_210406a.jpg
 | alt2 = Three small white and yellow flowers before green-leaf background
 | image3 = adoxa_moschatellina_blatt.jpeg
 | alt3 = Leaves of a plant, in groups of three each with three lobes
 | footer_background = #33CC00
 | footer_align = center
 | footer = ''[[Adoxa]]'' (''Adoxa moschatellina'')
}}

Adoxa (Adoxa moschatellina)

If the images have a clear background, this will by default be changed to white. To make the background color of the images match, set them with |image_style=background-color:. You might want to also remove the border.

{{multiple image 
| align = center 
| width = 64 
| background color = black 
| image_style=background-color:black; border:none;
| image1 = Aries symbol (planetary color).svg|link1=Aries (astrology)
| image2 = Taurus symbol (planetary color).svg|link2=Taurus (astrology)
| image3 = Gemini symbol (planetary color).svg|link3=Gemini (astrology)
| image4 = Leo symbol (planetary color).svg|link4=Leo (astrology)
}}

With links (link[n])

A mule

A donkey

A fish

The image of the mule links to Mule; the image of the donkey does not link anywhere; the image of the trout links to a standard image description page.

{{multiple image
 | align = left

 | image1 = Mule (PSF).png
 | width1 = 143
 | alt1 = A mule
 | link1 = Mule
 | caption1 = A mule

 | image2 = Donkey 1 arp 750px.jpg
 | width2 = 150
 | alt2 = A donkey
 | link2 = 
 | caption2  = A donkey

 | image3 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | width3 = 91
 | alt3 = A trout
 | caption3  = A fish

 | footer = The image of the mule links to [[Mule]]; the image of the donkey does not link anywhere; the image of the trout links to a [[Image description page|standard image description page]].
}}

Using direction

By default, the images the template presents are displayed horizontally, as a row (see left; equivalent to setting |direction=horizontal). To display them vertically, i.e. as a column, set |direction=vertical (see right).

(horizontal)

(vertical)

On mobile devices some images may always be displayed vertically if the total width is larger than around 320.

To match image heights

Decide on a total width for all the images, say 320px
Set the total width using |total_width=

Rectangular image of a donkey, originally 536 pixels high.

Square image of a trout, originally 300 pixels high.

Both images have been rendered with the same height, and a total width of 320px

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 320

 | image1 = Donkey 1 arp 750px.jpg
 | alt1 = A donkey
 | caption1 = Rectangular image of a donkey, originally 536 pixels high.

 | image2 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | alt2 = A trout
 | caption2 = Square image of a trout, originally 300 pixels high.

 | footer = Both images have been rendered with the same height, and a total width of 320px
}}

Using the |width[n]= and |height[n]= parameters.

Square image of a trout, originally 300 x 300 pixels.

width2 x height2 = 900 x 900.

width3 x height3 = 100 x 200.

width4 x height4 = 200 x 100.

All images have been rendered with the same height except for image3, which is 100/200 = 1/2 the height of the other images. Image4 is 200/100 = 2 times the height of image1, so only its top half is visible. Total width set to 480px.

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 480

 | image1 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | caption1 = Square image of a trout, originally 300 x 300 pixels.

 | image2 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | width2 = 900
 | height2 = 900
 | caption2 = <code>width2</code> x <code>height2</code> = 900 x 900.
 
 | image3 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | width3 = 100
 | height3 = 200
 | caption3 = <code>width3</code> x <code>height3</code> = 100 x 200.
 
 | image4 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | width4 = 200
 | height4 = 100
 | caption4 = <code>width4</code> x <code>height4</code> = 200 x 100.
 
 | footer = All images have been rendered with the same height except for image3, which is 100/200 = 1/2 the height of the other images. Image4 is 200/100 = 2 times the height of image1, so only its top half is visible. Total width set to 480px.
}}

The aspect ratio of each image is automatically retrieved from the File metadata. You can override the native width and height values by

Examining the individual image pages to obtain the full resolution. For example:
- File:Donkey 1 arp 750px.jpg shows "Donkey_1_arp_750px.jpg (750 × 536 pixels, file size: 125 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)"
- File:Rainbow trout.png shows "Rainbow_trout.png (300 × 300 pixels, file size: 158 KB, MIME type: image/png)"
Specify the full width and height for each image, of the form:
- |width1= |height1= |width2= |height2=

Multiple rows

To create an array of images, with multiple rows, use |perrow=. The value passed to |perrow= may be a single number, or a list of numbers delimited by /. This feature may also be combined with |total_width= for multiple rows of images with the same total width.

Surveying Equipment. Clockwise from upper left: Optical Theodolite, Robotic total station, RTK GPS Base station, Optical level.

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| image1 = Kern_Theodolit_DKM2-A.jpg
| image2 = Total-Robotic-Station.jpg
| image3 = DumpyLevel.jpg
| image4 = GPS_Survey_Equipment_at_Weir_Dyke_Bridge_-_geograph.org.uk_-_336908.jpg
| footer = Surveying Equipment. Clockwise from upper left: Optical Theodolite, Robotic total station, [[Real-time kinematic|RTK]] GPS Base station, Optical level.
}}

Removing the image border

The border around the images can be removed using |image_style=border:none.

Image of a donkey

Image of a trout

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 320
 | image_style = border:none;

 | image1 = Donkey 1 arp 750px.jpg
 | alt1 = A donkey
 | caption1 = Image of a donkey

 | image2 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | alt2 = A trout
 | caption2 = Image of a trout
}}

Increasing the gap between images

The gap between the images can be increased using |image_gap=N, where N is the number of pixels (must be non-negative).

Image of a donkey

Image of a trout

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 320
 | image_gap = 20

 | image1 = Donkey 1 arp 750px.jpg
 | alt1 = A donkey
 | caption1 = Image of a donkey

 | image2 = Rainbow_trout.png
 | alt2 = A trout
 | caption2 = Image of a trout
}}

Directly invoking module

On large pages, multiple uses of this template can contribute to the page exceeding the maximum post-expand include size limit. To reduce the include size, Module:Multiple image can be invoked directly as follows (note the extra | character after the module name):

{{#invoke:multiple image|
 | width = 60
 | image1 = OOjs UI icon wikiTemplate.svg
 | image2 = Cib-lua (CoreUI Icons v1.0.0).svg
}}

TemplateData

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Multiple image in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Multiple image

This template creates a box with two to ten images arranged vertically or horizontally with captions for the entire box and each image.

Template parameters
This template has custom formatting.
Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Alignment	`align`	Sets text-wrapping around image box, where "none" places the box on the left edge with no text-wrapping, "center" places the box at center with no text-wrapping and "left" and "right" refer to position of box on screen with text-wrapping. Suggested values `left` `center` `right` `none` Default right Example left/right/center/none	String	optional
Direction	`direction`	Direction in which to tile the images. Suggested values `horizontal` `vertical` Default horizontal Example horizontal/vertical	String	suggested
Frame width	`total_width`	Use to scale the images to the same height and this total width. Do not use both total_width and width. Integer width in pixels; no "px" suffix Example 400	Number	suggested
Row layout	`perrow`	Create an array of images, with multiple rows. The value passed to may be a single number or a list of numbers with each row delimited by /. Can be combined with total_width for automatic sizing of images. Example 1 / 2 / 1	String	optional
Image width	`width`	Width overrides Width 1, Width 2, Width 3, etc. If you want the images to be different sizes, do not provide the width parameter. Integer width in pixels; no "px" suffix Example 200	Number	optional
Background color	`background color`	Defines the background color between the border of the box and the images. Changing the background can be bad for accessibility, avoid when possible. Example #EEFFGG or red	String	optional
Caption alignment	`caption_align`	no description Suggested values `left` `center` `right` Default left Example left/right/center	String	optional
Image 1	`image1`	Image 1 is name of first image. Similarly for Image 2, etc. File name only; no "File:" or "Image:" prefix. Example example.jpg	File	required
Width 1	`width1`	Width 1 is width of first image. Similarly for Width 2, etc.	Number	optional
Alt text 1	`alt1`	The [[alt text]] of first image (see [[WP:ALT]]). Similarly for Alt text 2, etc.	Line	suggested
Caption 1	`caption1`	Caption 1 is caption of first image. Similarly for Caption 2, etc.	Content	suggested
Link 1	`link1`	Where the first page links to. Similarly for Link 2, etc. If not specified, image links to the image description page as usual. If specified to the empty value, the image does not link anywhere; this should be used for purely decorative images as per [[WP:ALT]]. Important: If the image is under a free license like the GFDL or a CC license, you must not use this parameter as the terms of those licenses require the license, or a link to it, to be reproduced with the image. The image must, therefore, link to its image page. Public domain and (theoretically) non-free use images are not subject to this restriction.	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 1	`thumbtime1`	If image1 is an Ogg Theora file, sets the time within the video that is used for the initial display. Either a number of seconds or hours:minutes:seconds. Similarly for Thumb time 2, etc.	String	optional
Image 2	`image2`	no description Example example.jpg	File	suggested
Width 2	`width2`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 2	`alt2`	no description	Line	suggested
Caption 2	`caption2`	no description	Content	suggested
Link 2	`link2`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 2	`thumbtime2`	no description	String	optional
Image 3	`image3`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 3	`width3`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 3	`alt3`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 3	`caption3`	no description	Content	optional
Link 3	`link3`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 3	`thumbtime3`	no description	String	optional
Image 4	`image4`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 4	`width4`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 4	`alt4`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 4	`caption4`	no description	Content	optional
Link 4	`link4`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 4	`thumbtime4`	no description	String	optional
Image 5	`image5`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 5	`width5`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 5	`alt5`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 5	`caption5`	no description	Content	optional
Link 5	`link5`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 5	`thumbtime5`	no description	String	optional
Image 6	`image6`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 6	`width6`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 6	`alt6`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 6	`caption6`	no description	Content	optional
Link 6	`link6`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 6	`thumbtime6`	no description	String	optional
Image 7	`image7`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 7	`width7`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 7	`alt7`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 7	`caption7`	no description	Content	optional
Link 7	`link7`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 7	`thumbtime7`	no description	String	optional
Image 8	`image8`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 8	`width8`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 8	`alt8`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 8	`caption8`	no description	Content	optional
Link 8	`link8`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 8	`thumbtime8`	no description	String	optional
Image 9	`image9`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 9	`width9`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 9	`alt9`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 9	`caption9`	no description	Content	optional
Link 9	`link9`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 9	`thumbtime9`	no description	String	optional
Image 10	`image10`	no description Example example.jpg	File	optional
Width 10	`width10`	no description	Number	optional
Alt text 10	`alt10`	no description	Line	optional
Caption 10	`caption10`	no description	Content	optional
Link 10	`link10`	no description	Page name	optional
Thumbtime 10	`thumbtime10`	no description	String	optional
Image gap	`image_gap`	Override the distance between adjacent images. Integer width in pixels; no "px" suffix Default 5 Example 20	Number	optional
Image style	`image_style`	Override the default styling of the image frame.	String	optional
Header	`header`	A header text to place above the entire frame.	Content	optional
Header background	`header_background`	Defines the background color of the header field. Changing the background can be bad for accessibility, avoid when possible Example #EEFFGG or red	String	optional
Header alignment	`header_align`	no description Default center Example left/right/center	String	optional
Footer	`footer`	Caption that spans the entire box, as opposed to individual images. Avoid "left" and "right" if possible, since mobile devices may display the images vertically.	Content	optional
Footer background	`footer_background`	Defines the background color of the footer field. Changing the background can be bad for accessibility, avoid when possible Example #EEFFGG or red	String	optional
Footer alignment	`footer_align`	no description Suggested values `left` `center` `right` Default left Example left/right/center	String	optional
Show or hide border	`border`	Use value "infobox" to hide the border when using the template within an infobox. Suggested values `infobox`	Unknown	optional

Tracking categories

Notes

^ The |upright= parameter can only be used to relatively-size an image when using the |thumb= parameter, and this template needs to format images without thumbs, so it has no easy way to access the Wikimedia relative-sizing machinery.