Improved Definition for Alt Text
Alt Text: A text description associated with an image on a webpage. It serves two primary purposes:
- Accessibility: Provides a textual alternative for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to access web content.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Helps search engines understand the image’s content, potentially improving its search rankings.
Key characteristics:
- Concise and descriptive: Alt text should accurately and concisely describe the image’s content.
- Relevant: The text should be relevant to the surrounding content and the overall context of the webpage.
- Keyword-rich: For SEO purposes, incorporating relevant keywords into alt text can help improve search engine visibility.
- Avoids redundancy: Avoid repeating the image’s filename or caption in the alt text.
Examples of alt text:
- Image of a cat: “A tabby cat sitting on a windowsill.”
- Image of a product: “Red Nike sneakers with white laces.”
- Infographic: “Infographic showing the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.”
- Decorative image: “Decorative floral background.”
Best practices for using alt text:
- Use descriptive language: Avoid generic or vague terms.
- Keep it concise: Aim for a brief and informative description.
- Prioritize relevance: Ensure the alt text accurately reflects the image’s content.
- Use keywords strategically: Incorporate relevant keywords for SEO purposes, but don’t overstuff.
- Provide context: If the image is part of a larger context, consider including relevant information in the alt text.
By effectively using alt text, you can improve your website’s accessibility for visually impaired users and enhance its SEO.