Alt text
Fast track (Summarised definition)
Alt text, short for alternative text, is a web accessibility feature that provides written descriptions of images for users who cannot see them. This HTML attribute ensures websites remain accessible to people using screen readers or experiencing slow connections, while also serving SEO functions by helping search engines understand and index visual content appropriatel.
Full lap (Full definition)
Alt text, short for alternative text, is a crucial web accessibility feature that provides written descriptions of images for users who cannot see them. This HTML attribute serves as a text-based substitute for visual content, ensuring websites remain accessible to people using screen readers, those with visual impairments, or users experiencing slow internet connections where images fail to load.
From a technical standpoint, alt text is implemented using the "alt" attribute within HTML image tags, allowing assistive technologies to read aloud image descriptions to users who rely on audio navigation. This ensures compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and makes digital content inclusive for all users, regardless of their abilities.
Effective alt text should be concise yet descriptive, conveying the essential information or context that the image provides. For decorative images that don't add meaningful content, empty alt attributes (alt="") signal screen readers to skip them entirely. However, informative images require detailed descriptions that capture the image's purpose and relevant details within the surrounding content.
Beyond accessibility, alt text serves important SEO functions. Search engines cannot "see" images but rely on alt text to understand visual content, making it valuable for image search rankings and overall website optimisation. Well-crafted alt text helps search engines index images appropriately, potentially driving additional organic traffic through image search results.
Alt text also improves user experience when images fail to load due to technical issues or slow connections. Instead of broken image placeholders, users see meaningful text descriptions that maintain content comprehension.
For Australian businesses and organisations, implementing proper alt text is not just good practice—it's essential for legal compliance with disability discrimination legislation. Creating inclusive digital experiences through thoughtful alt text demonstrates commitment to accessibility whilst enhancing SEO performance and overall user experience across all devices and connection speeds.