Published: June 3, 2025 | Author: Your Friendly Campus Accessibility Nerd

Learning Objectives

• Understand what alt text is and how it helps all users, especially those using screen readers.
• Spot common mistakes with alt text and learn how to avoid them.
• Write clear, helpful, and meaningful alt text for your website images.

So… What *Is* Alt Text, Really?

Alt text—short for “alternative text”—is a written description of an image. People using screen readers hear this description instead of seeing the image. So when you’re writing alt text, imagine you’re describing the picture to a friend who can’t see it. What would you say?

Good alt text helps people understand your image. Bad alt text leaves them confused. No alt text? That’s like turning off the lights and walking away.

See It in Action: Before and After

Notice the difference? One helps someone understand what’s in the image. The other might as well say “¯\_(ツ)_/¯”.