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February 8, 2026 Lucas Fernandez – World Editor World

This code snippet represents an <img src> element with responsive image handling using the <source> tag. Let’s break it down:

1. Conditional Comment for IE9:

This is a conditional comment specifically targeting Internet Explorer 9. It hides a <video> element. This is a common workaround to prevent IE9 from rendering a placeholder video element when it doesn’t support the <picture> or <source> elements used for responsive images. It’s a legacy technique.

2. <source> Tags (Responsive Images):

The core of the snippet is the series of <source> tags. These are used to provide different image sources based on the user’s device characteristics (screen size, resolution, etc.).

* media="(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)": This is the first <source> tag. It targets devices with a high pixel density (Retina displays, etc.).
* -webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2: Specifically targets WebKit-based browsers (Safari, Chrome) with a device pixel ratio of 2 or greater. This means the device has twice the pixel density of a standard screen.
* min-resolution: 120dpi: Targets devices with a minimum resolution of 120 dots per inch. This is another way to identify high-density displays.
* data-srcset="...": This attribute specifies the different image URLs and their corresponding widths. The browser will choose the moast appropriate image based on the media query and the available screen size. The format is: URL width. For example, https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2025.12/xxs/6933090085f54014ee5973f7.jpg 560w means the image at that URL is suitable for a viewport width of 560 pixels.

* Second <source> Tag:
* data-srcset="...": This provides a different set of image URLs and widths, likely for standard resolution displays.

3. srcset Attribute (Fallback):

srcset=”data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAJCAQAAACRI2S5AAAAEElEQVR42mNkIAAYRxWAAQAG9gAKqv6+AwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==”

This srcset attribute is on the implicit <img> tag (wich isn’t explicitly written but is implied by the <source> tags).It provides a fallback image. In this case, it’s a very small, clear PNG image encoded as a base64 string. This is a placeholder image that will be displayed if none of the <source> tags match the user’s browser or device.It’s a good practice to include a fallback to ensure something is displayed.

In Summary:

This code snippet implements a responsive image solution. The browser will:

  1. Check if the device meets the criteria specified in the media attribute of the first <source> tag (high-density display).
  2. If it does, it will choose the most appropriate image from the data-srcset attribute based on the viewport width.
  3. If the device doesn’t meet the criteria of the first <source> tag, it