What is alt text?
Alt text, known as an Alternative text or Alt attribute, is a phrase or text, that gives information to the website viewers about content or a type of image on a webpage. This text or word can be enclosed in HTML and XHTML document.
Alt text is visible for site visitors when they position their cursor over the picture. The text shows in a blank box. By adding Alt text to your web page, you improve your website’s search engine optimization.
Importance of alt text for images
Alt text plays a crucial role in web accessibility. When an image lacks appropriate alt text, screen readers are unable to interpret it, leaving visually impaired users without essential context. By providing descriptive alt text, website owners ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can comprehend the content and context conveyed by the images.
Moreover, alt text has significant implications for search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines rely on alt text to understand the content of images, which can improve the website’s rankings in image search results. Using relevant keywords in alt text also enhances the overall SEO strategy of a webpage.
When to Use Alt Text for Images
Alt text should be used for all images that convey essential information or contribute to the understanding of the content. Decorative images, such as design elements or images that serve no informational purpose, can have empty alt attributes (alt=””). If an image contains important information, such as charts or infographics, the alt text should concisely convey the essential points.
Images that link to other content should also have descriptive alt text, as it informs users about the destination of the link. For instance, if an image links to a product page, the alt text should describe the product and its purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I write good alt text?
In order to write good alt text you have to be specific and brief. You should also make sure that the description contains a keyword whenever possible.
What does good alt text look like?
Good alt text is concise and specific. For example, instead of writing “Image of a dog”, you should write “Dog barking”.
How can I add alt text to my images?
You can add alt text to your images by adding the following code to your HTML:
.
How can I add alt text to my images?
You can add alt text to your images by adding the following code to your HTML: .
