21 Alternative Text and Captions for Images
Alternative text is a textual substitute for non-text content in web pages. This article is focused on images (Links to an external site.), but its principles also apply to multimedia and other non-text content.
Alternative Text and Captions for Images
Ask Yourself
- For each image consider have I described in text what this image does and what this image is.
Recommended Practices
Alternative text serves several functions:
- Screen readers announce alternative text in place of images, helping users with visual or certain cognitive disabilities perceive the content and function of the images.
- If an image fails to load or the user has blocked images, the browser will present the alternative text visually in place of the image.
- Search engines use alternative text and factor it into their assessment of the page purpose and content.
- Integrate requests for Alt text, captions, and image descriptions into any presenter biography requests.
Feel free to adapt the below request for your uses:To increase accessibility we will be adding alternative text, captions, and potentially describing images out loud when giving presentations. These text descriptions of the images help many people including those with low vision to access the images. We want to make sure your comfortable with how we describe you. If you would like to describe yourself we will gladly use that description. If you would prefer us to create a description for you are there any physical descriptors we should use or avoid (such as skin complexion, ethnicity, age, gender)?
Caption text serves several functions:
- A caption refers to a short piece of text placed under/ beside a picture in a social media post, magazine, book, or newspaper that describes that specific picture or explains what is happening in the picture.
- It is a written description or explanation of a photo in order to provide more context.
For websites and web based materials plan to have alternative text and captions for images. Ask presenters and facilitators if they have alternative text they prefer to support inclusion.