Overview
Alt-text, which is short for alternative text, is a written description of an image. All document images must contain alt text. The alt text must be concise but include enough information to relay the image's main features.
Pictures, screenshots, icons, charts, tables, infographics, and other images convey important meaning and information. If a reader cannot see the image, the information is unavailable without alt text.
How a screen reader reads alt-text
Image considerations
How to add alt-text
- Select the image.
- Right click or open the context menu with the applications key or press shift+F10.
- Choose Edit Alt Text.
- Add a concise description conveying the purpose of the image or object in the document.
- If an image is purely decorative, type “decorative" in the alt text box (do not check the ‘mark as decorative’ box).
- Close the dialog box (there is no ‘ok’ or ‘save’ button).
How make an image in-line with text
- Select and right click the image.
- Under the 'Wrap Text' drop-down menu, select 'In-line with Text.'
- Alternatively, select the image and use the ‘Picture Tools’ pane, then select ‘In-line with Text.’
How to wrap an image and add alt text
Video: Considering Context When Writing Alt Text
Resources
- Describing Images in Publications – DAISY webinar that introduces image descriptions.
- The Art and Science of Describing Images Part Two – DAISY webinar that goes into describing Maps, Graphs, and Charts.
- W3C's Tutorial on Images – Tips for describing symbols and images in sequence.
- AccessiblePublishing.ca Guide to Image Description – General guidelines for publishers, created by our accessibility testing team.
- Poet Training Tool – Provides an interactive tutorial on how to describe all types of images and is great to practice your writing skills.
- Long description techniques: DAISY Knowledge Base
- WCAG Techniques for Long description: G73 – G74 – G92
- The Art and Science of Describing Images Part Two – DAISY webinar about describing maps, graphs, and charts
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