Alt text

Alt text (alternative text) is a written description attached to an image in HTML using the alt attribute. Screen readers read it aloud in place of the image, and browsers show it when the image fails to load, so it is essential for accessibility.

Good alt text describes the image's purpose in context, not just what it literally shows - alt text for a logo that links home should say "Home", not "blue swirl logo". Images that add no information, such as a decorative image, should get empty alt text (alt="") rather than a description, so screen readers skip over them entirely.

Learn more

• Understanding Non-text Content - the WCAG success criterion requiring text alternatives
• Decorative image