Accessibility

Alt Text

A short written description of an image, read aloud by screen readers and shown when an image fails to load. It is also used by search engines to understand visual content.

Why it matters

An interface that excludes people is broken, full stop. Alt Text helps make sure everyone can perceive, understand and use a page, regardless of ability or device. It is the right thing to do and it quietly improves the experience for every user, not just some.

In practice

In practice we build Alt Text in from the start, because retrofitting it is slow and expensive. We test with a keyboard and a screen reader, check it against recognised standards, and treat any barrier as a real bug rather than a nice-to-have.

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Related terms

Keep reading.

Accessibility
Accessibility
The practice of designing and building sites so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand and operate them. Done well, it also improves usability for everyone, including keyboard and mobile users.
View definition
Accessibility
Semantic HTML
Using HTML elements according to their meaning, such as headings, lists and buttons, rather than generic containers. It gives assistive technology and search engines reliable structure to work with.
View definition

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