Alt text

Definition

Alt text, or alternative text, is a descriptive text that provides information about an image on a webpage or digital document. It serves as a crucial accessibility feature, allowing visually impaired users to understand what an image depicts through screen readers. Additionally, alt text can improve search engine optimization by providing context to search engines about the content of images.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Alt text should be concise yet descriptive, usually no longer than 125 characters, to effectively convey the essential details of an image.
2. Including alt text is not only an ethical obligation but also a legal requirement in many jurisdictions to ensure web accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
3. Search engines utilize alt text as part of their algorithms to index images, making it important for improving a website's overall search visibility.
4. Poorly written alt text can misinform users and lead to frustration, highlighting the importance of crafting accurate and relevant descriptions.
5. In cases where images are purely decorative and do not convey meaningful information, an empty alt attribute (alt="") should be used to inform assistive technologies that the image can be ignored.

Review Questions

• How does the use of alt text enhance the accessibility of digital content for visually impaired users?
  • Alt text enhances accessibility by providing essential descriptions of images that can be read aloud by screen readers. This allows visually impaired users to gain an understanding of visual content that they cannot see. By effectively conveying the context and purpose of images, alt text ensures that all users have equal access to information and resources online.
• What role does alt text play in improving SEO and how can it impact website traffic?
  • Alt text plays a vital role in improving SEO by helping search engines understand the content and context of images on a webpage. When alt text is relevant and well-written, it can enhance the chances of images appearing in search results, driving more organic traffic to the website. This connection between alt text and SEO emphasizes its importance not just for accessibility but also for digital marketing strategies.
• Evaluate the ethical implications of neglecting alt text in web development practices, particularly regarding inclusivity.
  • Neglecting alt text in web development raises significant ethical concerns about inclusivity and equal access to information. By failing to provide descriptive text for images, developers risk excluding visually impaired users from fully engaging with digital content. This lack of consideration undermines efforts toward creating an inclusive online environment, as it perpetuates barriers that limit access to information based on ability. Ethical web practices must prioritize the inclusion of alt text to ensure all users can navigate and benefit from digital resources.

Related terms

Accessibility: The practice of making digital content usable for people with disabilities, ensuring equal access to information and resources.

Screen Reader: A software application that converts digital text into synthesized speech, allowing visually impaired users to access written content.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The process of optimizing web content to improve its visibility and ranking in search engine results, often involving keyword usage and alt text for images.