ALT text, short for “alternative text,” is a descriptive text attribute added to an HTML image tag. It provides a textual description of an image’s content and purpose. ALT text is primarily used to ensure that visually impaired users who rely on screen readers can understand the content of an image. Additionally, ALT text serves as a fallback when an image cannot be displayed, allowing users to comprehend the image’s context even if they cannot see it.
Significance and Usage ALT Text
ALT text is crucial for web accessibility and SEO. When an image is not displayed, either due to slow internet connection, disabled image loading, or screen reader usage, the ALT text conveys the image’s information to ensure a seamless browsing experience for all users. From an SEO perspective, descriptive ALT text helps search engines understand the image’s content and relevance, potentially improving the webpage’s visibility in image search results.
Example of ALT Text
For instance, imagine a webpage that includes an infographic illustrating the benefits of exercising regularly. The ALT text for the infographic image may be “Infographic: Benefits of Regular Exercise.” This ALT text provides a concise and meaningful description of the image’s content, allowing visually impaired users to comprehend its purpose and enabling search engines to index the image appropriately.