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Alt text, short for alternative text, is a description added to images on websites. It helps search engines understand your images and improves accessibility for users who rely on screen readers. Writing effective alt text is essential for enhancing your website’s SEO and ensuring all visitors can access your content.
Why Is Alt Text Important?
Alt text serves two main purposes: it boosts your site’s SEO and makes your content accessible. Search engines use alt text to index images, which can help your pages rank higher in search results. For users with visual impairments, screen readers read the alt text aloud, providing context about the image that they cannot see.
How to Write Effective Alt Text
Writing good alt text involves being clear, concise, and descriptive. Here are some tips:
- Describe the content and function of the image.
- Avoid using phrases like “image of” or “picture of.”
- Keep it brief—aim for 125 characters or less.
- Use relevant keywords naturally, without keyword stuffing.
- If the image is purely decorative, use an empty alt attribute
alt="".
Examples of Good Alt Text
Here are some examples to illustrate effective alt text:
- Decorative image:
alt="" - Product photo:
Red leather handbag with gold accents - Infographic:
Chart showing global temperature increase from 1900 to 2020 - Team photo:
Members of the 2023 school debate team smiling together
Conclusion
Effective alt text improves your website’s SEO and makes your content accessible to everyone. By describing images clearly and concisely, you help search engines understand your content and ensure that users with visual impairments can fully engage with your site.