What attribute is required for the <img> tag?

The <img> tag is designed to embed images in HTML documents, and one of its essential attributes is the src attribute. The src attribute specifies the source of the image, which is usually a URL pointing to the image file. Without the src attribute, the browser would not know where to retrieve the image from, resulting in a broken image link.

Using the src attribute is critical for the proper functioning of the <img> tag, as it directly impacts whether the image appears on the webpage. While the alt attribute is important for accessibility and providing alternative text in case the image cannot be displayed, it is not mandatory for an image to load. The title attribute can offer additional information about the image when hovered over, but again, it is not essential for the image's display. Similarly, the href attribute is used within the <a> tag to create hyperlinks and is not applicable to the <img> tag at all. Therefore, the src attribute is indeed the required attribute for the <img> tag to function correctly.