How to Make Your Images Accessible with ALT Text Best Practices and Common Mistakes

ALT text (alternative text) is essential for making websites more accessible and improving SEO. It helps users with assistive technologies understand images and allows search engines to index your content better. Here’s a guide to writing effective ALT text, avoiding mistakes, and ensuring your images are meaningful and accessible.

What to Do

• Keep It Short and Clear
  • Describe the image briefly and focus on what matters. Use fewer than 125 characters whenever possible.

  Example: For a photo of a cat:
  “A gray cat sleeping on a windowsill.”

• Focus on Context
  • Tailor your description to the purpose of the image on the page. This makes the ALT text more useful.

  Example: For an image in a recipe post showing a finished dish:
  “A bowl of creamy tomato soup garnished with fresh basil.”

• Describe Text in Images
  • If the image contains text, include it in the ALT text. For complex graphics (e.g., charts, infographics), provide detailed explanations elsewhere.

  Example: For an ad with the text “50% off sale”:
  “Ad for 50% off sale on all products.”

• Use Simple and Clear Language
  • Avoid jargon and complex words. Write descriptions anyone can understand.

  Example: Use “A beach with golden sand” instead of “A coastal shoreline with shimmering granules.”

• Use Correct Spelling and Punctuation
  • Punctuation helps screen readers pause naturally, improving clarity.
• Update ALT Text Regularly
  • Whenever you update content or replace images, ensure the ALT text reflects the current image and its purpose.

What Not to Do

• Don’t Start with “Image of” or “Picture of”
  • Screen readers already identify images. Start with the description instead.

  Example: Instead of “Image of a sunset,” write:
  “A vivid orange sunset over the mountains.”

• Don’t Write ALT Text for Decorative Images
  • Use alt=”” for purely decorative images so assistive technologies skip them. This avoids unnecessary interruptions.
• Avoid Repeating Captions in ALT Text
  • If the image has a caption, make the ALT text unique.

  Example:

  • Caption: “Family enjoying a picnic at the park.”
  • ALT text: “A child holding a sandwich during a family picnic.”
• Don’t Use Generic ALT Text for Logos
  • Include the company name for more meaningful descriptions.

  Example: Use “Logo of Green Earth Café” instead of “Company logo.”

• Don’t Include Unnecessary Details
  • Skip irrelevant descriptions that don’t add value.

Additional Tips for Writing ALT Text

• Test for Accessibility: Ask yourself if the ALT text provides value if the image doesn’t load.
• Be Specific for Functional Images: For graphs or charts, include only key data in the ALT text and add longer explanations elsewhere if needed.
• Review for Consistency: Regularly review ALT text for outdated or irrelevant content.

Examples of Good ALT Text

• Simple photo:
  “A woman typing on a laptop in a coffee shop.”
• Complex graphic:
  “Bar chart showing 2023 sales growth with 60% online and 40% in-store.”
• Decorative image (null ALT):
  alt=””
• Logo:
  “Logo of Green Earth Café.”

By following these best practices, you can write ALT text that’s concise, relevant, and accessible. This ensures your website is not only user-friendly but also inclusive for everyone. 🌟

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