Alt Text

Alt text (alternative text) is a written description of an image’s content that helps visually impaired people and other people with disabilities understand what an image shows. When screen readers reach content with alt text, the alt text is read aloud so that people can better understand what's on the screen. It also helps search engine bots understand image contents and will appear on a page when the image fails to load.

Alt text is necessary for Section 508 compliance.

Alt text should be used on webpages, newsletters, and Microsoft Word documents and PowerPoints.

When to Use Alt Text

By providing alt text we can create a more equivalent experience for people who can’t otherwise access the images. But having to go through alt text for every image on a page — particularly when the alt text is redundant with the page copy — can be burdensome.

When you do need alt text:

When the page text directly references the image (e.g., "see image below")
When it helps users more efficiently complete a task (e.g., alt text for a product image may summarize the product details distributed throughout a long and complex page, thus helping users quickly review all relevant product information)

When you don't need alt text:

When the task-related information in the image is found elsewhere on the page
Image is purely decorative

More information on when to use alt text:

Writing Alt Text

To make sure you’re writing alt text that’s as helpful as possible, keep the 3 Cs in mind:

Clear: Alt text needs to include all the relevant information that’s in the image. What would someone miss by not seeing the image?
Concise: Explain what’s in the image but don’t repeat information that’s already included in your content.
- Consider key elements of why you chose this image, instead of describing every little detail.
- Aim for just a few sentences.
Consistent: Try to keep things like tone, verb tense, and level of detail consistent in alt tags — just like any other written content.

Other Tips:

No need to say, “image of” or “picture of.”
Indicate if it’s a logo, illustration, painting, or cartoon.
End the alt text sentence with a period.
If alt text is AI is generated, always double check to ensure accuracy.

Example of alt text - a group of people sitting in front of computer (with alt text label)

Alt Text in govDelivery

Before uploading an image, you're asked to name the image, which is used for alt text.
For more information, see the govDelivery website.

screenshot of image selection in GovDelivery highlighting "Name (used for alt text)" and the box where the text is entered

Alt Text in WordPress

After uploading an image, you can edit the attachment (image) details to enter the alt text in the alternative text box.
For more information
- VDH Accessibility- WordPress (see Images)
- WordPress website (Step 4).

Alt Text in Microsoft Products

For instructions on how to add alt text in Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, go to Add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object

Tips:

Remember to use the Microsoft 365 Accessibility Checker during your review process. It checks that all relevant visual content has alt text and also gives you other suggestions for improving the accessibility of your content, such as checking contrast ratios.
- To run the Accessibility Checker, on the Review tab, select Check Accessibility.
- For more info on the Accessibility Checker, go to Improve accessibility with the Accessibility Checker.

Do not use a file name, duplicate text, or URLs as alt text. The Accessibility Checker flags these since they are not useful to someone with a visual disability.
- For more info, go to Rules for the Accessibility Checker.