Alt Tags
- Use the Alt tag to provide a clear text alternative. Alt text should be used for all images, graphical bullets, and horizontal rules. Descriptive Alt text should let the user know what an image is and the purpose of that image. Alt Tag Example
- If a graphic is not fully described through alternate text or understanding a visual image is important to understanding the information on a page (or if it provides important clues to a page's mood and style) you may want to include a more detailed description than what is provided by the Alt text. Typically, Web designers use a "D" as a link to a separate html document that contains this more detailed text-based description. "D-Link" Example
- If your images are really ASCII art (an image created at the keyboard using standard keyboard characters), provide a link before the image to an anchor after the image so that a user with a screen reader can skip over the ASCII characters. Also, supply a text-based description of the image. ASCII Art Example
- If you use image maps, use client-side image maps with Alt text for the linked hotspots. Alt text can be supplied for links in image maps by inserting the attribute in the AREA tag. Image Map Example
- If you use charts or graphs, provide a text alternative that summarizes the content of each chart or graph, or use the longdesc attribute. Charts and Graphs Example
- If you use mathematical or scientific notation placed as a graphic, be sure to include Alt text that accurately "reads" the notation. Mathematical Notation Example
- To evaluate your site, view it in a browser with the images turned off and see if the content remains clear.
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