Techniques for WCAG 2.0

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H37: Using alt attributes on img elements

Applicability

Images used within HTML documents.

This technique relates to:

Description

When using the img element, specify a short text alternative with the alt attribute. Note. The value of this attribute is referred to as "alt text".

When an image contains words that are important to understanding the content, the alt text should include those words. This will allow the alt text to play the same function on the page as the image. Note that it does not necessarily describe the visual characteristics of the image itself but must convey the same meaning as the image.

Examples

Example 1

An image on a Website provides a link to a free newsletter. The image contains the text "Free newsletter. Get free recipes, news, and more. Learn more." The alt text matches the text in the image.

Example Code:

<img src="newsletter.gif" alt="Free newsletter. 
   Get free recipes, news, and more. Learn more." />

Example 2

An image on a Web site depicts the floor plan of a building. The image is an image map with each room an interactive map area. The alt text is "The building's floor plan. Select a room for more information about the purpose or content of the room." The instruction to "select a room" indicates that the image is interactive.

Resources

Resources are for information purposes only, no endorsement implied.

HTML 4.01 IMG element

HTML 4.01 alt attribute

Tests

Procedure

  1. Examine each img element in the content

  2. Check that each img element which conveys meaning contains an alt attribute.

  3. If the image contains words that are important to understanding the content, the words are included in the text alternative.

Expected Results

Checks #2 and #3 are true.

If this is a sufficient technique for a success criterion, failing this test procedure does not necessarily mean that the success criterion has not been satisfied in some other way, only that this technique has not been successfully implemented and can not be used to claim conformance.

Techniques are Informative

Techniques are informative—that means they are not required. The basis for determining conformance to WCAG 2.0 is the success criteria from the WCAG 2.0 standard—not the techniques. For important information about techniques, please see the Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria section of Understanding WCAG 2.0.