How to Use an IFrame to Create a Pop-Up Website
An iframe is a common HTML element used to embed content from another domain (usually a website). Iframes give website creators the opportunity to insert content from other websites, either on the same or a different domain, within their own.
The content inside an iframe is typically hidden from the user’s view, as they would never enter a site they’re not familiar with. This makes it easy for website owners to create pop-up websites, which display content only when the user interacts with the site or the embedded content.
Why Use An IFrame?
There are several advantages to using an iframe. First off, it is very simple to add an iframe to a website. You just have to paste the HTML code into a designated area on your page. You don’t have to set any CPM or banner ad units or worry about tracking pixels, as the iframe code handles all of that for you. (You can always opt out of having your data tracked and used for commercial purposes if you’re doubtful about using an iframe to host content.)
Another great advantage of using an iframe is that you can easily insert content from other domains. Many big social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, offer an embed feature that makes it easy to add external content to your website. For example, if you have a Twitter account and someone shares a blog post link on your behalf, you can easily add it to your website by using the Twitter embed feature.
How to Use An IFrame To Create A Pop-Up Website
Nowadays, many big social media platforms also offer custom domain names with their embedded content, which makes it even easier to add external content to your website. For example, if you want to add the New York Times’ website to your own blog, all you have to do is type NYTimes.com into your browser to make sure you’re on their domain and then hit enter.
Once you’re on their domain, you can add content from their website straight into your blog post by simply dragging the blue box that appears in the top right corner into your post.
You can also use an iframe to create a pop-up website. To do this, you first need to add an HTML
Then, you need to add a piece of JavaScript code to your website that will detect when the user interacts with your site or the embedded content (e.g., clicks a link, searches the web with the search bar, or downloads a file). When an interaction occurs, the JavaScript will hide the content until the user decides to display it again. This opens up the possibility for a fully functioning pop-up website.
Here’s an example of an iframe-based pop-up website that appears when you mouse over the gray area on this page:
And here’s an example of how it works:
You can take this concept a step further and use JavaScript to make the iframe disappear after a certain amount of time. This way, you have a fully functioning countdown to a special event, such as an award ceremony or an important business meeting.
Creating A Pop-Up Website With Iframes
If you’re new to web design, the process of creating a pop-up website with iframes can seem a little daunting. Luckily, there’s a lot of help available online. For example, the Mozilla website, specifically their Web Design Guide, has an in-depth tutorial on creating a pop-up website, using JavaScript, CSS, and several different HTML elements, including the iframe.
To follow the tutorial, simply open up a new tab in your browser and go to the Web Design Guide. Then, follow the instructions to the tee. When you’re done, you can close the tab and continue with your day.
The great thing about online tutorials, in general, is that they’re usually very easy to follow. This is also true of the Mozilla tutorial. If you get stuck at any point, you can always go back and re-read the instruction or look at the FAQs at the end of the Web Design Guide to see if your question has been answered. (Or, if it’s still unanswered, you can submit a new question.)
Final Takeaway
Overall, using an iframe is a simple way to add content from another website, on the same or a different domain, to your own. Creating a pop-up website with iframes is a great way to test new ideas, demonstrate a product, or just keep your audience engaged. If you have a short amount of time to spare, it’s pretty easy to put together a fully functioning iframe-based pop-up website.