HTML Alt Text

Understanding Alt Text

Alt text, short for alternative text, is an essential attribute used in HTML to describe the content and function of an image on a webpage. It improves accessibility for users who rely on screen readers and helps search engines understand the image's content.

Why Alt Text is Important

Alt text serves several key purposes:

• Accessibility: It provides a textual description for visually impaired users who use screen readers to interpret webpage content.
• SEO: Alt text helps search engines index images properly, contributing to better search engine rankings.
• Image Load Failures: When an image fails to load, the alt text is displayed in its place, giving users context about what was intended to be shown.

Best Practices for Writing Alt Text

When writing alt text, consider the following guidelines:

• Be Concise: Use clear and brief phrases to describe the image.
• Be Specific and Relevant: Focus on the content and function of the image in its context.
• Avoid Redundancy: Do not include phrases like 'image of' or 'picture of' as screen readers announce images automatically.

Examples of Alt Text in HTML

In the example above, the alt text provides a concise yet descriptive explanation of the image content, making it accessible to all users.

When to Use Empty Alt Attributes

In some cases, images are purely decorative and do not add meaningful content to the page. In such instances, it's appropriate to use an empty alt attribute to prevent screen readers from announcing the image unnecessarily:

This tells assistive technologies that the image can be safely ignored without losing context or information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common pitfalls to avoid when writing alt text:

• Keyword Stuffing: Do not overfill the alt attribute with keywords as it can be detrimental to both accessibility and SEO.
• Leaving Alt Text Out: Forgetting to include alt text can leave some users without important information.
• Inaccurate Descriptions: Providing misleading or incorrect descriptions can confuse users and impact user experience negatively.