A guide to help content managers implement and maintain website accessibility standards.
*There is an exception to the “read more” rule but it requires a web developer to make sure the link is properly coded. This means that assistive technology users hear a description of the link in the code while the text on the page (in context) still shows as ‘read more’.
Okay: Alt=”Pancakes”
This alt text is only “okay” because it’s not very descriptive. Yes, this is an image of a stack of pancakes. But, there’s more to be said about this image.
Good: Alt=”Stack of pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup”
This alt text is a better alternative because it is far more descriptive of what’s in the image. This isn’t just a stack of “pancakes” (as the first alt text example demonstrated); it’s a stack of blueberry pancakes with a dusting of powdered sugar!
Not recommended: Alt=”Photo of pancakes”
or
Alt=”pancake pancakes hotcake hotcakes breakfast best breakfast food pancake recipe”
Neither of these examples are recommended. The first alt tag doesn’t need to include “photo of”, the screen-reading tool will identify it as an image. The second example demonstrates keyword stuffing in alt text, this should also be avoided.
