Alternative text (Alt text) is an HTML attribute used to provide descriptive information about online elements, primarily for search engines and screen readers. It serves as a textual representation of web content, such as images, videos, or form fields, helping users and search engines understand what the element represents even when it cannot be visually accessed.
For accessibility purposes, alt text is essential for individuals using screen readers, allowing them to navigate websites and comprehend visual content. It ensures that users with visual impairments can interact with and understand the context of images or other non-text elements. Beyond accessibility, alt text also plays a vital role in search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines rely on alt text to index images and other media, which can improve a website’s visibility in search results and drive more organic traffic.
Although alt text is generally invisible to most users during normal browsing, it becomes visible when an element fails to load or is broken. Well-written alt text should be concise, descriptive, and relevant to the content, conveying the purpose of the element clearly. By implementing effective alt text, website owners enhance usability, accessibility, and search engine performance simultaneously, creating a more inclusive and search-friendly online experience.
