
Alt Text: A Glossary
Alt Text: Alt text (alternative text), also known as "alt attributes," "alt descriptions," or "alt tags," is used within HTML code to describe the appearance and function of an image on a page. This text is crucial for accessibility and SEO purposes.
Important Aspects of Alt Text
- Accessibility: Alt text helps visually impaired users understand the content of images through screen readers.
- SEO Benefits: Search engines use alt text to index images properly, which can improve search engine rankings.
- Image Context: Provides context to images if they fail to load, ensuring users understand what the image represents.
- User Experience: Enhances user experience by providing detailed information about the images on a website.
Examples of Using Alt Text
Example | Description |
---|---|
Descriptive Alt Text | Providing a detailed description of the image, such as "A black cat sitting on a windowsill." |
Functional Alt Text | Describing the function of an image, such as "Submit button" for a form button image. |
Informative Alt Text | Adding information about the image content, such as "Chart showing sales growth from 2020 to 2021." |
Alt Text for Links | Providing context for linked images, such as "Logo of Company X linking to homepage." |
Best Practices for Using Alt Text
Best Practice | Description |
---|---|
Be Descriptive | Write descriptive alt text that accurately represents the image content and context. |
Keep it Concise | Ensure alt text is concise but informative, generally under 125 characters. |
Avoid Keyword Stuffing | Do not overuse keywords in alt text; focus on clear and relevant descriptions. |
Use for Important Images | Prioritize alt text for images that add value to content, such as informational graphics and buttons. |
Skip Decorative Images | For purely decorative images, use empty alt attributes (alt="") to avoid cluttering screen readers. |
Example of Creating Alt Text
Example: Steps to create effective alt text for an image.
# Steps to Create Effective Alt Text:
1. Identify the image's purpose and content.
2. Write a brief, descriptive text that conveys the image's information.
3. Avoid unnecessary details and focus on what is important for understanding.
4. Ensure the alt text is under 125 characters.
5. Implement the alt text in the HTML image tag, for example:
<img src="example-image.jpg" alt="A black cat sitting on a windowsill">
6. Review and update alt text regularly to maintain relevance and accuracy.
Common Mistakes in Using Alt Text
- Too Vague: Using vague descriptions like "Image1" that do not provide useful information.
- Keyword Stuffing: Overloading alt text with keywords, which can harm SEO rather than help it.
- Ignoring Decorative Images: Failing to use empty alt attributes for decorative images, which can clutter screen reader output.
- Overly Long Descriptions: Writing excessively long alt text that can be cut off or ignored by screen readers.
- Not Updating: Neglecting to update alt text when the image or its context changes.
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