Images - Seven Simple Skills - Teaching.iu.edu

Overview

Individuals who cannot see images in documents rely on the author to provide alternative text to describe the content or purpose of the images. Assistive technologies can read the alternative text (often called "alt-text") aloud in place of the image. An image's alternative text is usually hidden, but may be displayed by web browsers or email clients in place of the image when images have been turned off.

Alternative ("alt") text allows authors to include images while ensuring the benefits of the image are provided to everyone.
Individuals using assistive technology will be able to understand the content of images, graphs, and other similar items that may be included in a document, as the alt-text will be read aloud by their technology when they encounter an image.
Anyone choosing to have a computer read a document to them will benefit from having the images described. For example, a student that uses Ally to convert a document to an audio file for listening to while commuting.

If the image is purely decorative and does not serve an informative purpose, no alt text is necessary. In some cases, such as specific website content editors, you can even mark an image as decorative.

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Images - Seven Simple Skills - Teaching.iu.edu

Overview

Boosting Inclusion: How Alternative Text Helps Readers

Don'ts and Dos: Tips for writing effective alt-text

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