Importance for Accessibility
Alt text is a short description of an image. It helps users who can’t see the image understand its meaning.
Why It Matters
- Screen readers read alt text aloud
- Users may disable or not load images
- Without alt text, image meaning is lost
How to Write Alt Text
- Be clear, concise, and descriptive
- Focus on the meaning of the image
- Keep it short (around 125 characters)
Think: What does this image add?
Best Practices
- Describe the important content only
- Match the context of the page
- Include text shown in the image (if relevant)
- Use tools like the W3C alt text decision tree when unsure
Complex Images
In some cases, such as when using graph data or other complex imagery, a different type of alternative is required. Please visit our Complex Images and Alternative Text using AI page for more information.