Alternative Text for Images

Alternative text (commonly known as alt text) describes visual elements on a webpage to give context for people using screen readers to access web content.

In addition to images, alt text is also used to describe:

• Tables
• Infographics
• Documents
• .PDFs

You can also add alt text to images within documents, infographics, and .PDFs so people using screen readers gain context for those images.

1. Because screen readers and other assistive devices already describe images as such, you don't need to preface alt text with "Image of" or "photo of." 
2. Use simple descriptive language when writing alt text to give the reader a clear idea of what the image depicts.
   1. Close your eyes and think of the image and include information that you'd use to describe it.
3. Limit the alt text description to relevant information; you don't have to include every single nuance of an image, just the main details of it. 
   1. Consider the purpose of the image on the page. Include the relevant information it's being used to convey.
4. Be concise. A phrase or sentence is usually sufficient. 

Below you will find instructions and screenshots of the Web Authors Dashboard that illustrate how to add alt text to an image.

You can also find detailed instructions for adding images and alt text in the Image section of Content Block Instructions and Examples.

Step 1: In page edit mode, hover over the pencil icon at the top left of the image you want to edit or add alt text.

Step 2: To access the field where you can add or edit alt text for an image, click the edit icon to the right of the delete (trash can) icon.

• An Alt Text Decision Tree (WC3 Tutorials)
• WebAIM guide to alternative text (WebAIM)
• Microsoft Guide to Alt Text