Alt Text

Alt text (alternative text), also known as alt attributes or alt tags, is an HTML attribute used to describe the content and context of images on web pages. Primarily created to improve web accessibility, alt text ensures visually impaired users understand images through screen readers. Additionally, alt text helps search engines recognize and index visual content, playing an important role in SEO.

Good alt text provides clear, concise, and descriptive information about the image content, ideally containing relevant keywords in a natural way. It should never be keyword-stuffed, irrelevant, or misleading.

Importance of Alt Text for SEO & Accessibility

• Enhances Accessibility:
  Assists visually impaired users by clearly describing images through screen readers.
• Improves Image SEO:
  Allows search engines to properly index your images, increasing your visibility in image search results.
• Optimizes User Experience:
  Displays meaningful descriptions when images fail to load, helping users understand content.

Best Practices for Writing Alt Text

1. Be Descriptive and Relevant:
   Clearly and accurately describe the image content and context in a concise manner.
2. Include Relevant Keywords:
   Use relevant keywords naturally, without keyword stuffing or forced phrasing.
3. Keep It Brief:
   Aim for around 125 characters or fewer to ensure readability and effectiveness.
4. Avoid Using “Image of” or “Picture of”:
   Screen readers already announce the presence of an image; directly describe the content instead.
5. Contextual Relevance:
   Ensure alt text matches the overall content topic and surrounding text on the page.