{"id":54452,"date":"2024-08-07T16:12:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T15:12:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?p=54452"},"modified":"2024-10-08T12:01:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T11:01:11","slug":"how-to-write-alt-text","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/how-to-write-alt-text\/","title":{"rendered":"How to write good alt text"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Everywhere you go on the internet, it\u2019s awash with images. It could be anything from a meme of a kitten doing something cute or an important statement from the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what if you\u2019re blind? How can we make the visual world of the internet more accessible for people like me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, fortunately, there is a really simple thing we can all use when posting pictures online. It\u2019s called alt text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
What is alt text?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alternative (or alt) text is literally a description of an image that will be read out by a screen reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Screen readers are specialist programmes that convert what is on the screen into speech. They\u2019re often used by blind people like me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By adding alt text to your images, you make them accessible for people who are using screen readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some social media apps (for example, X) will even remind you when you\u2019re posting an image to make it accessible by adding alt text. It\u2019s really simple to do and will make a world of difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why is alt text important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
“Using alt text when uploading an image means I\u2019m included, I know what\u2019s going on and can join in. I want to know about the cute kittens as well!”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I believe that for the most part, the internet is a force for good. It\u2019s helped me personally remain connected to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether that\u2019s chatting to friends or catching up with the latest Olympics news, I\u2019m online an awful lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using alt text when uploading an image means I\u2019m included, I know what\u2019s going on and can join in. I want to know about the cute kittens as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond it being the right thing to do to be more accessible and inclusive, alt text may also improve your website traffic. Good alt text can improve your ranking in search results, meaning more people are likely to find your page when they\u2019re searching online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to write alt text<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So what makes good alt text? Below are some top tips, based on my own experiences, for writing great alt text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be succinct \u2013 you don\u2019t need to write a novel!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Good alt text should clearly set out specifically what\u2019s in the image, so that someone using a screen reader gets the same key information that someone looking at the image will get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But don\u2019t go overboard with the amount of detail. You shouldn\u2019t need to write more than one or two sentences, or 125 characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give me the necessary context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I need alt text to give me enough information to fully understand the context of the image, while considering what is relevant and important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if I was posting a picture of my delicious stuffed crust pizza, unhelpful alt text would say something vague like: \u201cSome food on a plate\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helpful alt text would add a bit more context: \u201cA slice of Steven\u2019s favourite pizza on a blue plate\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell me if it\u2019s a logo or an icon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It helps when alt text is clear about what on the page is a logo, icon or symbol signifying something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the image is linked to a webpage, then it\u2019s also helpful to be told what will happen if I click the link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if your image links to the \u201cHelp\u201d page on your website, then it would be useful for the alt text to state: \u201cGet help\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t tell me it\u2019s an image<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the most common pitfalls when writing alt text is starting with \u201cA picture of\u2026\u201d or \u201cAn image showing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t need to write anything like that in your alt text. My screen reader will tell me it\u2019s an image, so if it\u2019s also added into the alt text, it can be quite frustrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Include text that\u2019s in the image<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your image has words in it, please include the text in your alt text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is nothing more annoying than alt text that says something like \u201cStatement from the Prime Minister\u201d, but doesn\u2019t share the content of the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Chris,](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-1886-1-1024x683.jpg\")
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