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How to use html ALT image tags and their purpose. What do ALT tags do?
HTML ALT image tags are short for Alternate Text for Images and they are actually an "attribute" of the HTML image <IMG> tag. That's why it's better to refer to them as Attributes and not tags. It is an essential label for describing the specific purpose of an image. ALT attributes are necessary for individuals who have manually set their browsers to not display images, users with text-only browsers like Lynx, and for visually impaired users with text-to-speech browsers. Example 1 below illustrates what the ALT attribute looks like in code view for a company logo. Instead of just calling it alt="logo" we have stated the business name. It's important to keep the text as descriptive as possible without making it too wordy.
Example 1
<img src="logo.gif" alt="Late Night Cyber Cafe Logo" width="32" height="32">
Non-essential page elements like spacers, bullets, or decorative borders should include a blank ALT attribute in the IMG tag (empty quotes) as Example 2 illustrates.
Example 2
<img src ="images/border.gif" alt="">
ALT Attributes for the Visually Impaired
Alternate Text is also a part of the Section 508 Accessibility Standards and essential for people with disabilities who often use adaptive technologies that include text-to-speech browsers (speech synthesizers).
What is Section 508?
"In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual's ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily."
Section 508 specifically states:
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content).
Learn More about Section 508
ALT Attributes for Search Engines
ALT Attributes are visible to web crawlers or more commonly known as search engine spiders. Search engines are unable to view graphics in formats like GIF or JPG. Because of this most engines will read the content of the image's html ALT attribute to determine the purpose of a graphic image. Creating relevant, and keyword rich ALT attributes is an essential part of building a website and can help optimize your website for the search engines.
How to Use HTML ALT image Tags
How to use html ALT image tags and their purpose. What do ALT tags do?
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HTML ALT image tags are short for Alternate Text for Images and they are actually an "attribute" of the HTML image <IMG> tag. That's why it's better to refer to them as Attributes and not tags. It is an essential label for describing the specific purpose of an image. ALT attributes are necessary for individuals who have manually set their browsers to not display images, users with text-only browsers like Lynx, and for visually impaired users with text-to-speech browsers. Example 1 below illustrates what the ALT attribute looks like in code view for a company logo. Instead of just calling it alt="logo" we have stated the business name. It's important to keep the text as descriptive as possible without making it too wordy.
Example 1
<img src="logo.gif" alt="Late Night Cyber Cafe Logo" width="32" height="32">
Non-essential page elements like spacers, bullets, or decorative borders should include a blank ALT attribute in the IMG tag (empty quotes) as Example 2 illustrates.
Example 2
<img src ="images/border.gif" alt="">
ALT Attributes for the Visually Impaired
Alternate Text is also a part of the Section 508 Accessibility Standards and essential for people with disabilities who often use adaptive technologies that include text-to-speech browsers (speech synthesizers).
What is Section 508?
"In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual's ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily."
Section 508 specifically states:
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content).
Learn More about Section 508
ALT Attributes for Search Engines
ALT Attributes are visible to web crawlers or more commonly known as search engine spiders. Search engines are unable to view graphics in formats like GIF or JPG. Because of this most engines will read the content of the image's html ALT attribute to determine the purpose of a graphic image. Creating relevant, and keyword rich ALT attributes is an essential part of building a website and can help optimize your website for the search engines.