Alt Text: Describing Images Properly
Alt text is a short written description attached to an image. Screen readers announce it to people who cannot see the image, and it is shown if the image fails to load. Good alt text means no one misses the meaning a picture is meant to convey.
Writing it well is a small habit with a big payoff — it helps disabled users, improves image search, and forces clearer thinking about why each image is there.
What Makes Good Alt Text
Describe the purpose of the image in context, not every pixel. Keep it concise and avoid phrases like 'image of', which screen readers already announce.
- Convey the information or function the image provides.
- Keep it short — usually a sentence is plenty.
- Match the description to the surrounding content.
Decorative Images
Some images are purely decorative and add no information. These should have an empty alt attribute so screen readers skip them, avoiding needless clutter and noise.
Complex Images
Charts, diagrams and infographics need more than a short label. We pair them with a longer description nearby, or a data table, so the full meaning is available to everyone.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.