Alternative (Alt) Text is meant to convey the “why” of the image as it relates to the content of a document or webpage. It is read aloud to users by screen reader software, and it is indexed by search engines. It also displays on the page if the image fails to load, as in this example of a missing image.
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What is alt text for?
‘Alt text’ is a contraction of ‘alternative text’. It’s a short written description of an image, which makes sense of that image when it can’t be viewed for some reason. Well-written alt text is important to your website’s accessibility, and its search engine optimisation (SEO).
How do you do alt text?
Add alt text
- Do one of the following: Right-click the object and select Edit Alt Text. Select the object.
- In the Alt Text pane, type 1-2 sentences in the text box to describe the object and its context to someone who cannot see it. Tip: Save time and add an alt text generated by the system to the object.
Should all images have alt text?
Rule Description
All images must have alternate text to convey their purpose and meaning to screen reader users.
How do you alt text infographics?
Quick tips for writing image alt descriptions
- Keep it conversational – use proper sentences, not keywords or phrases.
- Don’t write “an image of…”
- Stick to 1-2 sentences.
- If you need a longer description, write a brief summary in the alt text, and include the full description underneath the image.
How do I add alt text to a JPEG?
Adding ALT text to the metadata (PC/Windows):
- Open the folder where your images are kept (ex: Pictures folder in Windows)
- Right click the image.
- Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
- Click the “Details” tab.
- Paste your ALT text into the “Title” input field of the photo.
- Click OK (this will save the metadata)
How do I add alt text to an image in Word?
To add alternative text to an image in Word: Insert the picture you want to use into the document. Right-click the picture, and then, in the menu that pops up, click Format Picture. Click the arrow next to Alt Text to expand the alternative text options.
Why is Alt Text important for accessibility?
Also referred to as an alt description or an alt attribute, alt text is critical for those with disabilities because it describes the function and appearance of a photo or graphic they cannot see. PDF documents often contain images that convey critical information to the reader.
When should you not use alt text?
Including alt text for decorative images or items
Decorative items such as dividers or design items that don’t provide additional context or content don’t need alt text. They don’t add to the information a user needs and they make little sense, or are unnecessary, when read with a screen reader.
Does alt text need periods?
Do use punctuation (but don’t overly rely on it)
Punctuation makes all text easier to understand and alt text is no exception. Screen readers pause for periods, semi-colons, commas, question marks, exclamation points, and paragraph endings. However, a screen reader may skip punctuation depending on the speed setting.
What is the difference between alt text and image description?
Alt text gives the user the most important information while image descriptions provide further detail. For example, alt text tells someone that there’s a puddle on the floor, and image description tells someone that the puddle on the floor is in the middle of the floor and it’s orange juice.
What is alt text word?
Alternative text (alt text) allows screen readers to capture the description of an object and read it aloud, providing aid for those with visual impairments. Here’s how to add alt text to an object in Word. In Word, you can add alt text to some objects, but not others.
How do you show alt text in Word?
Right-click an image or graphic object in a document. In the drop-down menu, click “Edit Alt Text…” 2. The Alt Text pane should appear on the right side of the screen.
Where is the alt text Task Pane in Word?
Select any image and press the Alt Text button in the Format ribbon tab. Right-click an image and select Edit Alt Text. The Alt Text pane opens on the right side of the document body.
Can you add alt text to an image file?
Open the word document and right click on the image and select Format Picture. If it is not already selected, choose the ‘Layout and Properties’ icon and click on alt-text. Provide a title (optional) and a succinct alt-text description.
How do I add alt text to a PNG?
Adding alt text to an image in the editor
For an existing image, right click on the image and select the Image Settings link. In the Image Properties settings, find the “Alternative text” field and input your image description. Save the Image Properties settings, save the Content element, and publish the page.
Who needs Alttext?
ALT tags are generally recommended to be concise (about 125 characters). However, some images are so complex that more information may be needed. Today, most experts recommend including an ALT text which refers blind users to a text based description elsewhere which is visible to everyone.
Who benefits from alt text?
Alt text uses:
Visually impaired users using screen readers will be read an alt attribute to better understand an on-page image. 2. Alt text will be displayed in place of an image if an image file cannot be loaded.
Should you include colors in alt text?
Q: Do you need to mention colors since people who are blind can’t see color?Those who can see (or have seen) color may find that information useful in alt text. There are also sighted users of screen readers.
CSS background images should not have alternative text if the image is truly a background image. Decorative (i.e removing it from the page causes no impact to the page’s meaning or function) CSS background images do not need additional markup.
Should you include your brand name in alt text?
Use your company name in logo image alt text
If you have a logo then alt text should repeat the company name that appears on your logo graphic. Rather than just writing “company logo” in alt text, mention the name of the company.