You are here: Home » Guidelines & Standards » ICT » Web accessibility techniques » Designer's introduction and index » Images - Section 4 (of 6) » DES 4.1 For all images, specify alternative text to convey equivalent information

DES 4.1 For all images, specify alternative text to convey equivalent information

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 the designer to specify to the developer what the alternative should be.

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:
- Purely decorative - specify NULL alt text or alt="" (no spaces);
- Image links - use the destination or function.
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.

A decorative corner - alt should be NULL (quote quote - no space) NOT fancy corner etc.

Image of a symbol with alt text 'email us' not a description of the symbol. Image of a house with correct alt text Home page NOT picture of house

Poor: An important paragraph of text with alt text just = important notice. It should have the full text

If using images as bullet points then use a * as the alt text (but avoid doing this by coding them as lists!

©CEUD 2010

The CEUD is part of the National Disability Authority
25 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0) 1 608 0456

Recommendations