CP 6 For all images, specify alternative text to convey equivalent information
Recommendations
When images are unavailable (e.g. turned off or because the user may have a visual impairment) equivalent information must be supplied.
It is your responsibility as a content provider to specify what the alternative text should be. This may be by entering this information into your content management system, templates or by passing the information over to the person who publishes the content to the web.
- Specify alternative text (also known as 'alt' text) for every image.
- Alt text should serve the same purpose and convey the same meaning as the image:
- If the image is purely decorative and has no informational content then specify NULL alt text or
alt=""(no spaces); - If your image is a link, use the destination or function;
- If the image contains words, make sure the full message of the words is in the alt text (although avoid using images of words (see CP 8) - use real text instead).
- If the image is purely decorative and has no informational content then specify NULL alt text or
- Avoid adding extra meaningless alt text:
- "image of...", "this is an image of...";
- "link to...", "this is a link to...".
Tip: Pretend to read the page out over the phone. What does each image have to say to give the same meaning? Use that as the alt text.
Examples
