What Is Alt Text?
Alt Text is written content attached to an image in a webpage's HTML. Screen readers may read the text aloud to describe the image to people who cannot see it. Search engines can also use the wording to understand an image's subject and its connection to the surrounding page content.
Quick Facts About Alt Text
Category
On-page accessibility element
Used for
Image descriptions and search context
Common confusion
Different from captions and image file names
Also called
Alternative Text, Image Alt Text
Often discussed with
On-Page SEO, SEO Audits
Key Takeaways About Alt Text
- Alt Text describes an image's purpose, not every visible detail.
- Decorative images may need empty Alt Text.
- Alt Text is not the same as an image caption.
How Alt Text Works
Alt Text works as an HTML attribute linked to an image element. A screen reader can present the wording when a visitor cannot see the image or when the image fails to load. Search engines may read the text as one signal about the image's subject.
Useful wording describes the image's role within the page. A product image needs a clear description of the product, while a decorative divider may need no spoken description. Screen readers and search engines use Alt Text differently, so the wording should serve people first and match the page context.
Expert Note
When we review On-Page SEO, we check whether important images have concise descriptions that match their role on the page. We also separate informative images from decorative elements, because adding repeated keywords can make the experience less clear for screen-reader users.
Alt Text in Practice: A Real-World Example
A Geelong plumber's service page might show a technician repairing a leaking tap. Suitable Alt Text could be "Plumber repairing a leaking kitchen tap in Geelong" when the location and service support the page context.
Related Services
SEOGeelong.au
Have Questions About Alt Text?
Contact SEOGeelong.au for practical guidance on Alt Text and related seo services work in Geelong.