---

layout: default

title: Serving responsive images in PhotoSwipe

h1_title: Responsive Images

description: The complete guide on how to serve responsive images in PhotoSwipe.

addjs: true

canonical_url: http://photoswipe.com/documentation/responsive-images.html

buildtool: true

markdownpage: true

---

PhotoSwipe does not support `<picture>` or `srcset`, as it requires defined image dimensions and uses lazy-loading. But as images are loaded dynamically, it's quite easy to switch sources, even in old browsers that don't support `srcset`.

Let's assume that you have just "medium" images and "original" ("large") images. First of, you need to store path and size of the image in slide object, for example like so:

```javascript
var items = [

	// Slide 1
	{
		mediumImage: {
			src: 'path/to/medium-image-1.jpg',
			w:800,
			h:600
		},
		originalImage: {
			src: 'path/to/large-image-1.jpg',
			w: 1400,
			h: 1050
		}
	},

	// Slide 2
	// {
	//     mediumImage: {
	//         src: 'path/to/medium-image-2.jpg',
	//         ...
	//     
	// ...
		
];
```

Then:


```javascript
// initialise as usual
var gallery = new PhotoSwipe( pswpElement, PhotoSwipeUI_Default, items, options);

// create variable that will store real size of viewport
var realViewportWidth,
	useLargeImages = false,
	firstResize = true,
	imageSrcWillChange;

// beforeResize event fires each time size of gallery viewport updates
gallery.listen('beforeResize', function() {
	// gallery.viewportSize.x - width of PhotoSwipe viewport
	// gallery.viewportSize.y - height of PhotoSwipe viewport
	// window.devicePixelRatio - ratio between physical pixels and device independent pixels (Number)
	//							1 (regular display), 2 (@2x, retina) ...
	

	// calculate real pixels when size changes
	realViewportWidth = gallery.viewportSize.x * window.devicePixelRatio;
	
	// Code below is needed if you want image to switch dynamically on window.resize
	
	// Find out if current images need to be changed
	if(useLargeImages && realViewportWidth < 1000) {
		useLargeImages = false;
		imageSrcWillChange = true;
	} else if(!useLargeImages && realViewportWidth >= 1000) {
		useLargeImages = true;
		imageSrcWillChange = true;
	}

	// Invalidate items only when source is changed and when it's not the first update
	if(imageSrcWillChange && !firstResize) {
		// invalidateCurrItems sets a flag on slides that are in DOM,
		// which will force update of content (image) on window.resize.
		gallery.invalidateCurrItems();
	}

	if(firstResize) {
		firstResize = false;
	}

	imageSrcWillChange = false;

});


// gettingData event fires each time PhotoSwipe retrieves image source & size
gallery.listen('gettingData', function(index, item) {

	// Set image source & size based on real viewport width
	if( useLargeImages ) {
		item.src = item.originalImage.src;
		item.w = item.originalImage.w;
		item.h = item.originalImage.h;
	} else {
		item.src = item.mediumImage.src;
		item.w = item.mediumImage.w;
		item.h = item.mediumImage.h;
	}

	// It doesn't really matter what will you do here, 
	// as long as item.src, item.w and item.h have valid values.
	// 
	// Just avoid http requests in this listener, as it fires quite often

});


// Note that init() method is called after gettingData event is bound
gallery.init();

```

- You are not obliged to use structure of slide object that looks exactly like above (with `mediumImage` and `largeImage` objects). For example, you may store size of image directly in image filename (`/path/to/large-image-600x500.jpg`) and then parse size in `gettingData` event. Only `item.src`, `item.w`, and `item.h` properties are read by PhotoSwipe and only after `gettingData` event is fired.
- The larger image, the less smooth animations will look.
- Try to avoid serving images just based on devicePixelRatio or just based on viewport size, always combine both.
- Feel free to use `srcset` on thumbnails that open PhotoSwipe.




Know how this guide can be improved? [Suggest an edit!](https://github.com/dimsemenov/PhotoSwipe/blob/master/website/documentation/responsive-images.md)