How Does Alt Text Work

How Does Alt Text Work?

Alt text, also known as alternative text or alt tags, is a short description of an image intended for users who are visually impaired or have a slow internet connection causing the image to load slowly or not at all. Alt text is read by screen readers or displayed in place of the image when it fails to load. Alt text is an HTML attribute that can be inserted directly into the img tag, for example:

Alt text provides context to the image and helps users to understand what the image represents. It is important to note that alt text is not an opportunity to stuff keywords, but to accurately describe the contents of the image in a concise manner. Alt text should be kept short, typically no longer than 125 characters.

Adding alt text to images not only helps visually impaired users access the content, but it also improves the accessibility of the website to everyone. It also helps search engines understand the content of the images on the website and improves the website’s ranking in search engine results. Alt text is an essential part of making a website accessible for everyone, and should be included in every website design.

In summary, alt text provides a vital function in website design and accessibility. It allows visually impaired users to understand the meaning of images and improves the website’s ranking in search engine results. Alt text should be kept short, accurate, and should describe the contents of the image it is attached to. Including alt text in every website design is crucial to ensuring that the website is accessible to everyone who visits it.