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Creating accessible websites is essential for ensuring that all users, including those with visual impairments, can access and understand your content. One important aspect of web accessibility is writing effective alt text for images. However, not all images require descriptive alt text—decorative images should be handled differently to improve overall accessibility.
Understanding Decorative Images
Decorative images are visuals that do not add informational content to a page. They are used primarily for aesthetic purposes, such as background images, borders, or purely decorative icons. Properly handling these images with alt text helps screen readers skip unnecessary content, making the experience smoother for users relying on assistive technology.
How to Write Alt Text for Decorative Images
When adding decorative images, the recommended practice is to use an empty alt attribute (alt=""). This tells screen readers to ignore the image, preventing unnecessary distractions. Here are some key points:
- Use
alt=""for purely decorative images. - Avoid adding descriptive text that is not meaningful.
- Ensure that meaningful images have descriptive alt text.
Examples of Proper Alt Text Usage
Here are some examples:
- Decorative image:
<img src="border.png" alt=""> - Informative image:
<img src="chart.png" alt="Sales growth chart for 2023">
Summary
Writing alt text for decorative images involves recognizing their purpose and using an empty alt attribute to improve accessibility. This simple step helps screen readers and enhances the overall user experience for everyone. Remember, always provide descriptive alt text for images that convey information, and keep decorative images properly marked as such.