Image width/height as an attribute or in CSS?

Enhancing accessibility and semantics

Add semantic value to your HTML with descriptive alt attributes. This, right here, is crucial for screen reader users and when images fail to load.

<img src="image.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Not another cat picture!">
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Note: CSS background images do not play well with screen readers, as they lack 'alt' attributes. So for layout integrity, use inline width and height attributes. It ensures that space is earmarked for the image, circumventing layout shifts.

Crafting responsive designs and layouts

Responsive design does the heavy lifting post initial load, adapting your images to multiple device dimensions without distorting your page layout. Here’s where CSS steps in as a dependable ally.

For images that are purely decorative or template-based, consider CSS backgrounds:

.background-image { /* CSS: Mission control, we have lift off 🚀 */
  background-image: url('image.jpg');
  width: 100%; 
  height: auto;
}
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This maintains a cleaner HTML structure while centralizing your styling in CSS, making future design tweaks near seamless.

Practical effects on performance and experience

Including HTML width and height attributes optimise your browsing experience by allowing browsers to allocate the correct image space even before it has loaded. Remember also to serve images in the displayed size to conserve bandwidth and boost page load times.

For responsive images, don’t forget your trusty sidekicks <picture> and srcset that serve the most appropriate image size based on the device, further saving bandwidth and enhancing performance.

Appropriate dimensioning of images

Ensuring correct dimensions is key to not only good looks but also consistent performance and user experience. Here’s your dimensioning cheat sheet:

• Lay down dimensions inline in HTML to prevent layout shifts.
• Let CSS handle image responsiveness, ensuring flexible adaptation.
• Keep your HTML lean by grouping styles in CSS, reducing HTML clutter.
• Use the alt attribute for semantic correctness.

Adhering to these best practices paves the way for a smoother, more accessible Web and a more efficient development process.

Semantic correctness with alt attributes

The alt attribute is absolutely essential for proper semantic enrichment. When an image is integral to the content's meaning, an alt text should be provided that encapsulates the constituent message. For purely decorative images, use an empty alt attribute (alt="").

Redundancy be gone!

Avoid code clutter by relying on CSS for styling. This greatly enhances your code's readability and delivers cleaner, more manageable content throughout your project.

User interactions – getting it right!

Priority numero uno is always the user's perspective. By deftly utilizing HTML attributes and CSS, you can avoid untoward situations like accidental clicks or missed content when images fail to load. Aim for the stars - deliver a seamless user experience.