What is Alternate Text?
Alternate text, also known as “alt text” or “alt tags”, is a short description for an image that allows assistive technologies to communicate the content and purpose of an image to users. It is used to support users who are visually or otherwise impaired, or those using mobile devices and other browsers that may not support an image.
Why is Alternate Text Important?
Alt text is an essential component of an accessible website. It allows users to access information that might otherwise be unavailable to them, and it helps them to understand the purpose and context of an image. Additionally, adding alt text to your website can improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).
How to Add Alternate Text
Adding alt text to an image is a simple process that doesn’t require any coding knowledge. Here are the steps for adding alt text to an image:
- Find the image you want to add alt text to.
- Right-click the image and select “Properties.”
- In the “Alternate Text” box, type a short description of the image.
- Click “OK” to save your changes.
When writing alt text, make sure to keep it concise, descriptive, and relevant to the image. It should accurately describe the content and purpose of the image.
Examples of Alternate Text
Here are some examples of how to write effective alt text:
- A picture of a yellow labrador retriever playing fetch: alt text: “Yellow labrador retriever playing fetch.”
- A picture of a group of people at a meeting: alt text: “Group of people having a meeting.”
- A picture of a laptop computer: alt text: “Laptop computer on a desk.”
Conclusion
Alt text is an important component of an accessible website that allows users with disabilities to access information. It can also help improve your website’s SEO. Adding alt text to an image is a simple process that doesn’t require any coding knowledge. When writing alt text, make sure to keep it concise, descriptive, and relevant to the image. For more information, please visit these links from Wikipedia: