Learn how to write alt text and image descriptions for blind users

Alt text and image descriptions are vital for web accessibility. Ignoring these features makes visual content inaccessible to website visitors with low vision. As most people will click away from a site they cannot use, it's time for businesses, bloggers, and webmasters to get smart with alt text and image descriptions.

Before we get started, what does web accessibility mean?

It's a good question, and you can check out our web accessibility guide for a detailed answer.

In short, web accessibility means designing a website in a way that doesn't prevent anyone from being able to use it.

Therefore, people with disabilities or impairments shouldn't have any trouble on your site.

Where does writing alt text and image descriptions come into it?

Alt text and image descriptions remove hurdles that stop people from accessing your content.

What is alt text?

Alt text is the abbreviation for “alternative text”.

Alt text briefly describes what is in an image, such as text and the most important details.

You'll sometimes see the alt text when an image fails to load.

In HTML view, you can provide alternative text for your pictures by adding alt="describe your image" within the image tag.

In many content management systems, you can add alt text by simply clicking on the image and entering a short explanation.

Most social media sites, such as Twitter, have a feature for adding alt text.

What is an image description?

An image description is more detailed than alt text, so that someone can find out more about what is happening in the image.

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