What is Alt Text?

Alt text (alternative text) is the description you attach to an image so search engines and screen readers understand what it shows. Alt text improves the accessibility of your website, helps images rank in Google Images and is shown when an image cannot load.

Why is alt text important?

Alt text serves two purposes. For accessibility, it tells people who use a screen reader what an image shows. For SEO, it helps search engines understand and index the image, which can bring in extra traffic through images.

Writing good alt text

Describe briefly and concretely what can be seen in the image, as if you were explaining it to someone who cannot see it. Include a relevant keyword where it fits, but avoid keyword stuffing. Keep it natural; that is part of good on-page SEO.

When do you leave alt text empty?

Purely decorative images without informative value can get an empty alt text, so screen readers skip them. For all images with content, you do write a description. This also makes your website easier to use for people with a screen reader.

Does every image need alt text?

Every image with content does. Decorative images can keep an empty alt text.

How long can alt text be?

Short and descriptive, usually one short sentence. Very long alt texts are less useful for screen readers.

Alt texts are an important part of digital accessibility.