Provide Meaningful Alt Text for All Images

Alt text, short for "alternative text," is a descriptive attribute added to image tags in HTML. For example, <img src="chart.jpg" alt="Bar chart showing quarterly sales growth from Q1 2024 to Q4 2025, with a 25% increase in Q3">. It is essential for screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver to vocalize image content to visually impaired users.

Importance of Alt Text

Every non-decorative image needs concise, meaningful alt text. Aim for 125 characters or less, focusing on the image's purpose and context rather than literal descriptions. For complex visuals like charts or infographics, use longer descriptions via longdesc attributes or linked text. Skip alt text (use alt="") for purely decorative elements like borders or spacers to avoid unnecessary noise.

How to Write Effective Alt Text

• Be Concise: Keep it under 125 characters.

• Focus on Purpose: Describe the image's purpose and context.

• Avoid Literal Descriptions: Instead of "A man standing," use "A man standing in front of a sunset."

Tools for Testing Alt Text

Test with tools like WAVE or Lighthouse to catch missing or poor alt text. Integrate it into your CMS workflow (e.g., WordPress prompts for it natively).

Real-World Examples

To illustrate, imagine Sarah, a blind e-commerce shopper using a screen reader to buy clothes online. Without alt text on product images, her device just says "image" repeatedly. This leaves her guessing about colors, styles, or fits, and she abandons her cart in frustration. This costs the business a sale and loyalty.

Or consider Mike, a low-vision marketer analyzing competitor sites. Vague alt text like "logo" instead of "Company X logo: Blue shield with white text reading 'Secure Solutions'" wastes his time and highlights how poor alt text alienates professionals too. These real-world frustrations aren't rare—user forums like Reddit's r/blind are full of stories where missing alt text turns simple tasks into barriers, leading to lost opportunities and negative word-of-mouth.

Legal Implications

In 2019, a high-profile class-action lawsuit was filed against Beyoncé's company, Parkwood Entertainment, by a visually impaired plaintiff who alleged the beyonce.com website violated the ADA. The site, which sold merchandise and tickets, lacked alt text for graphics, making it impossible for screen readers to describe images of products or navigation elements. This barrier prevented equal access to goods and services, leading to widespread media coverage and an undisclosed settlement (believed to be substantial). The case underscored how even celebrity-backed brands aren't immune, with courts emphasizing WCAG standards for alt text as a baseline for compliance.

Why It Matters

Without alt text, blind users miss key content like product photos or infographics. This is one of the most common lawsuit triggers—courts frequently cite missing or poor alt text, as it's a core Perceivable principle under WCAG.

Here are examples of effective alt text implementations on accessible sites:

• Example 1: <img src="product.jpg" alt="Red dress with floral pattern, available in sizes S to XL">

• Example 2: <img src="chart.jpg" alt="Bar chart showing quarterly sales growth from Q1 2024 to Q4 2025, with a 25% increase in Q3">

oyova.com +1

Why it matters: Without alt text, blind users miss key content like product photos or infographics. This is one of the most common lawsuit triggers—courts frequently cite missing or poor alt text, as it's a core Perceivable principle under WCAG.