Alt text, short for alternative text, describes an image that screen readers use to describe an image to visually impaired users. It is also known as “alt attributes” or “alt tags.” Alt text provides context and meaning to ideas that may not be apparent to users who cannot see them. Alt text is an essential element of web accessibility, ensuring that content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
TL;DR What is Alt Text?
Alt text is a textual description of an image that screen readers use to describe an image to visually impaired users. It is an essential element of web accessibility, ensuring that content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Importance
Alt text is essential in marketing because it can impact search engine optimization (SEO) and the user experience. Including descriptive alt text for images can improve the accessibility of a website, making it easier for visually impaired users to access the content. Additionally, search engines rely on alt text to understand the scope of an image and its relevance to a web page. Websites can improve their search engine rankings and visibility by including relevant and descriptive alt text. Overall, including alt text can improve the user experience, accessibility, and search engine visibility of a website.
Examples/Use Cases
A clothing retailer includes alt text for product images on their e-commerce website, making it easier for visually impaired users to browse and purchase products.
A travel website includes alt text for destination images, providing additional context and information for users who may not be able to see the pictures.
A food blog includes alt text for recipe images, making it easier for visually impaired users to follow along with the recipe instructions.
Category
- Web Accessibility
- SEO
- Content Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- UX Design
Synonyms/Acronyms
- Alt attributes
- Alt tags
Key Components/Features
- Descriptive: Alt text should clearly and accurately describe the image.
- Concise: Alt text should be brief and to the point.
- Relevant: Alt text should be relevant to the content of the web page and the image it describes.
Related Terms
- Web Accessibility
- SEO
- Image Optimization
- User Experience
- Screen Reader
Tips/Best Practices:
- Include alt text for all images on a website, including decorative photos.
- Use descriptive and accurate alt text that provides context and meaning to the idea.
- Keep alt text brief and to the point.
- Avoid using generic or vague alt text, such as “image” or “picture.”
- Test the accessibility of a website using screen reader software to ensure alt text is implemented correctly.
Further Reading/Resources
- “How to Use Alternative Text and Captions to Make Images Accessible” by Moz: https://moz.com/learn/seo/alt-text
- “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1” by W3C: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/
- “Image Optimization Best Practices” by Google: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/advanced/guidelines/image-optimization
FAQs
What is the purpose of alt text?
Alt text provides a textual description of an image for visually impaired users who may be unable to see the picture. It also provides context and meaning to search engines, improving the search engine.
How do I write compelling alt text?
Compelling alt text should be descriptive, concise, and relevant to the content of the image and web page. It should clearly and accurately describe the image, including any important details or information. It’s important to avoid using generic or vague alt text, such as “image” or “picture.” It’s also essential to test the accessibility of a website using screen reader software to ensure that alt text is implemented correctly.
What types of images require alt text?
All images on a website should include alt text, including decorative images. Decorative images can be described as “decorative” or “presentation” to indicate that they do not provide additional meaning or information to the content.
What is the impact of alt text on SEO?
Search engines use alt text to understand the content of an image and its relevance to a web page. Including relevant and descriptive alt text can improve a website’s search engine visibility and ranking.
Can alt text improve the user experience?
Yes, alt text can improve the user experience by making content more accessible to visually impaired users. It can also provide additional context and mean to all users’ images, improving the overall user experience.
What is the role of alt text in web accessibility?
Alt text is a critical element of web accessibility, ensuring that content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. By providing a textual description of an image, visually impaired users can access and understand a website’s content. It also helps to improve the overall accessibility and usability of a website.
