Creating Alt Text
What is alt text?
Alt text (short for alternative text) is a written description of an image. It’s added behind the scenes in websites, social media, and documents so that people who can’t see the image — like those using screen readers — can still understand what’s there.
How do you write it?
- Be descriptive but brief: Say what’s important in the image.
- Think about the purpose: Why did you include the picture? That’s what you should capture.
- Don’t say “image of” or “picture of”: The screen reader already tells them it’s an image.
Examples:
- ❌ Bad alt text: dog
- ✅ Good alt text: Golden retriever puppy playing with a tennis ball on the grass
✅ Do’s
- Describe the important stuff: What matters most for understanding the image?
- Keep it short: Usually 1–2 sentences max.
- Use plain language: Write how you’d explain it to a friend.
- Include any text in the image (if it’s important): e.g., parts of a poster or flyer. Do not use posters or flyers on web pages for in emails.
❌ Don’ts
- Don’t start with “Image of” or “Picture of” → screen readers already say that.
- Don’t describe every tiny detail → just what’s relevant.
- Don’t stuff it with keywords → it’s for people, not search engines.
- Don’t repeat nearby text → if the caption already says it, alt text can be shorter.