Describe The Image: Accessibility & Alt-Text Tips
Alt-text is an essential part of accessibility, yet writing it effectively isn’t always intuitive. This small but powerful feature can significantly impact how people experience your website. What you enter in the alt-text field is what is read out loud to people who use screen readers. You want to describe the image in a way that helps your visitor understand the purpose of the image.
So, what makes good alt-text? That can sometimes be tricky! But let’s explore common mistakes, see real-world use cases, and review some best practices to help you get alt-text right. I’m sure you’ll find a nugget of info to make it easier.
No matter your role in the digital world, as a developer, content creator, business owner, or thumb-scroller of social media – these tips will help you understand and improve how you write alt-text for your website or share pictures on social media.
When to Use Alt-Text
Add alt-text whenever an image needs a description; it provides meaning, context, or important information for your content.
Here are some situations to use alt-text:
1. Images That Support Content: Graphs, charts, and icons should include alt-text that explains their purpose.
2. Product Images: E-commerce websites rely on detailed alt-text to help shoppers make informed decisions.
3. Decorative Images: If an image is purely decorative and adds no real value, leave the alt-text empty (alt=””).
4. Images Conveying Unspoken Meaning: Memes and infographics require alt-text to be accessible.
5. Social Media Images: When posting images on social media, describe the scene or action to provide meaningful context.
Alt-text helps people who use assistive technology—screen readers or equivalent—have a similar experience as those who can see the images.
Plus, it’s great for SEO! More on that later!
Three Common Mistakes in Alt-Text Writing & How to Fix Them
Let’s go through some common mistakes that people make when writing alt-text and how to fix them.
1. Overly Detailed or Redundant Alt-Text
Too much detail can overwhelm the user and add unnecessary information. You want to keep it concise but still clear!
Example (Too Detailed):
“A white ceramic coffee cup on a wooden table, with a handle, containing coffee with cream on top.”
Better alt-text:
“A steaming cup of coffee with cream on a wooden table in a cozy café.”
Why this works:
It’s still detailed but not overloaded with extra info. It paints a clear picture without bogging the reader down with too much.
2. Missing Context or Information
If your alt-text is missing important context, it can be unhelpful or confusing.
Example (Too Vague):
“A pasta dish.”
Better alt-text:
“Spaghetti carbonara with crispy pancetta, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy egg-based sauce. Contains dairy and gluten.”
Why this works:
This description provides much more helpful information, especially for people with food sensitivities or dietary concerns.
3. Too Vague or Generic Alt-Text
If your alt-text is too vague, it doesn’t give enough information for a screen reader to understand entirely what the image is about.
Example (Too Generic):
“A dog.”
Better alt-text:
“A small, brown poodle wearing a red bandana walks on sand, wagging its tail.”
Why this works:
This alt-text provides key details like the breed, the action, and the setting. It gives a much clearer picture of what’s happening in the image!
Applying Alt-Text in Different Contexts
Now that you’ve seen some common mistakes in alt-text writing and how to fix them, let’s look at how to apply these best practices in real-world situations. Remember, alt-text isn’t just describing images—it’s providing the context for different situations – and proper context. Let’s take a look at how to craft effective alt-text based on how an image is used – on a blog, e-commerce sites, and a restaurant menu.
Alt-Text in Specific Scenarios
Different industry sectors require different strategies. Sometimes shifting your perspective on images to match the specific niche and its needs will give you a better result.
Lifestyle Images on Blogs or Websites
These images often help set the tone or tell a story. You want to describe the scene in a way that enhances the reading experience.
Example (Too Vague):
“Woman and Coffee cup”
Why it’s not great:
This description is vague and doesn’t give us much to work with. What is the woman doing? What’s the setting? Is it a cup of coffee or a coffee cup?
Better alt-text:
“A barista pours steamed milk into a mug, creating a heart-shaped latte art in a cozy café.”
Why this works:
It paints a vivid picture and gives context to the action, helping readers visualize the scene.
Product Images on E-Commerce Websites
Alt-text is a must for helping online shoppers make informed decisions. Describe the product in detail—don’t just focus on the color or shape.
Example (Too Generic):
“Red shoes.”
Why it’s not great:
We need more detail—what kind of shoes, not just the color? What makes this pair of shoes unique?
Better alt-text:
“Bright red women’s high-top sneakers with white soles for casual wear.”
Why this works:
This description is clear and provides the shopper with the information they need about the product, helping them decide to purchase it.
Additional Read: Read a blog from Accessicart about e-commerce product image alt-text – How to write effective product alt-text for accessibility
Food Images on a Menu
In this situation, alt-text should describe the dish and key ingredients, especially for dietary concerns.
Example (Too Vague)::
“A pasta dish.”
Why it’s not great:
It’s way too vague—what kind of pasta? What are the ingredients?
Better alt-text:
“Fettuccine Alfredo with creamy Parmesan sauce, sautéed mushrooms, and grilled chicken. Contains dairy and gluten.”
Why this works:
The description is specific and provides info for anyone with dietary concerns. We know the type of pasta, sauce, and ingredients.
Now, doesn’t that help provide meaningful context. By considering the purpose of the image and the needs of your audience, you can create descriptions that are clear, detailed, and useful. Thoughtful alt-text supports accessibility AND improves engagement and understanding for more users.
Accessibility, Alt-Text —and Your SEO
Alt-text does more than describe images for people who want it—it helps search engines understand images. (This is what I mean when I say it helps your SEO.) Since Google can’t “see” images the way people do, it relies on alt-text for context. Well-written alt-text can improve search rankings and visibility in Google Image Search, meaning more people finds your site.
Also, Google values websites that offer a great user experience, and accessibility is a big part of that. Adding thoughtful alt-text makes your site easier to navigate for people who use screen readers while also giving search engines helpful context.
SEO Alt-Text Best Practices
- Use keywords naturally (avoid stuffing)
- Keep it under 125 characters for screen reader clarity
- Don’t use “image of” or “picture of” (search engines already know it’s an image, and we’re all guilty of it at one time, but now we know better.)
- Be descriptive but concise (avoid unnecessary details)
Alt-Text for Better Accessibility & User Experience
Alt-text may seem like a small detail, but it plays a huge role in making websites more inclusive. Thoughtful, well-crafted alt-text improves accessibility, enhances SEO, and allows more people to engage with your content. Focus on describing what matters, and you make your site more inclusive, searchable, and user-friendly all at once. A more accessible site can lead to better engagement and higher rankings—a win-win for everyone.
Have more questions about making your marketing solution is accessible and following the best practices? I’m here to help! Let’s chat about how we can make your digital space welcoming to all.
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