WCAG 2.1 Help Blog
Alt text for website owners: simple rules that reduce risk
Alt text doesn’t have to be perfect. It needs to be useful. These simple rules help your team write alt text that supports customers who use screen readers.
When you need alt text (and when you don’t)
Alt text is for images that communicate meaning: products, key visuals, instructions, or anything important to understanding the page.
Purely decorative images should be ignored by screen readers so they don’t create noise.
- Product images: yes
- Icons that communicate meaning: yes
- Decorative flourishes and background shapes: usually no
A simple formula your team can follow
Write alt text based on the purpose of the image, not a literal description of every detail.
- What is it?
- Why does it matter on this page?
- What would someone miss if they couldn’t see it?
Charts and complex graphics
If an image contains lots of information (charts, infographics), a short alt text isn’t enough. Add a nearby text summary so everyone gets the same information.