Alternative Text (Alt Text)

What: 

• Short, descriptive text that explains the content and function of images, charts, and graphs.

Why:

• Alt text enables screen readers to describe visual content to users who are visually impaired.

Best Practices:

• Write brief, clear descriptions (one to two sentences) that focus on essential information.
• Avoid redundancy; do not start with "image of" or repeat nearby text.
• Tailor descriptions to the context of the surrounding content.
• Use proper punctuation and end descriptions with a period.
• Summarize complex visuals with brief alt text and provide a detailed explanation elsewhere.
• Mark decorative images properly to allow screen readers to skip them.