Alternative Text Check
Description
The “Alternative Text Check” evaluates whether all images on a webpage have an alternative text (alt text) attribute specified.
Example outcome
I noticed that all the images on the page have an alternative text equivalent.
Impact
- Visual Impairments: Alt text is crucial for individuals with visual impairments as it provides a textual description of images, enabling screen readers to convey the content to users who cannot see the images.
- Cognitive and Learning Disabilities: Alt text aids users with cognitive and learning disabilities by providing textual context for visual elements, facilitating comprehension and navigation.
Fixes
To address missing or inadequate alt text:
- Review each image on the webpage and determine appropriate alternative descriptions based on their content and context.
- Add alt text to each image using descriptive and concise language that conveys the purpose or function of the image.
- For decorative images, use empty alt text (alt=””) to indicate their decorative nature to assistive technologies.