Alt Text

A written description of an image, read aloud by screen readers and shown when an image fails to load, so people who can’t see it still get the meaning.

Why it matters

For a screen reader user, an image without alt text simply does not exist — or worse, announces itself as IMG_4021.jpg. Write what the image means in context, not what it contains: “the CEO signing the agreement”, not “two people at a table”.

See it

Write what the image means in context — not what the file is called.

The numbers

alt="" — the correct alt for purely decorative images, so readers skip them
~125 characters — a practical ceiling; readers do not pause mid-description

Related terms

Screen Reader
Eye Tracking
ARIA
Assets
Consistency

Ask your assistant

Define "Alt Text" using uxspot.

Works in Claude, Cursor or any MCP client — connect the uxspot MCP.

Think it stuck? A 20-second round of Spot Check will tell you.