Accessibility Issues: Images

Most Common Issues

Image Elements Should Have an “alt” Attribute

Alternative Text (Alt Text) is an alternative (non-visual) way to describe the meaning of an image. Please provide a brief description of the image for someone using a screen reader. Learn more at WebAIM.org: Alt Text Accessibility

Note: It should not be the image file name and should be 125 characters or less.

Alternative Text Should Not Be the Image Filename

Alternative Text (Alt Text) is an alternative (non-visual) way to describe the meaning of an image. Please provide a brief description of the image for a screen reader 

Note: It should not be the image file name and should be 125 characters or less.

Less Common Issues

Alternative Text Is More Than the Maximum Allowed Characters

Alternative Text (Alt Text) is an alternative (non-visual) way to describe the meaning of an image. Please provide a brief description of the image for a screen reader  Links to an external site.user. Note: It should not be the image file name and should be 125 characters or less.

Image Description Is Too Long

Any image that has an ‘alt’ attribute that does not fully convey the meaning of the image should have a ‘longdesc’ attribute.

Images Should Not Have a Placeholder as Alternative Text

Any image that is not used decoratively or which is purely for layout purposes cannot have an ‘alt’ attribute that consists solely of placeholders. Placeholders include: nbsp ,   , spacer , image , img , and photo .

Input Images Should Have an “alt” Attribute

Every form image button which has text within the image (say, a picture of the word ‘Search’ in a special font), should have the same text within the ‘alt’ attribute.

Decorative Images Should Have Empty Alternative Text

This image was marked as decorative in the Rich Content Editor, but the ALT attribute contains text. Please remove the alternative text or the decorative marking.

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