Alternative Text Captions (ALT Text)
What is Alt Text, and Why Do Use It?
An Alt Text Caption is descriptive text that is written to describe an image, chart, or logo that is meaningful and adds context to your message. While the main purpose of an Alt Text Caption is to be read aloud by a screen reader for visually impaired users, Alt Text captions benefit us all. Providing Alt Text for ANY non-text content allows users to change into other forms people need, such as large print, speech, symbols, or simpler language. This is a simple solution to ensure all families can access the information from your school. All programs, websites, and software the district uses have the capability to insert Alternative Text Captions for images. Finding this option is typically relatively easy; however, this guide breaks down instructions on how to add strong Alt Text Captions based on the platform you are using.
- Accessibility
- Ensures that ALL users will be able to understand the content you are sharing. This includes individuals who are visually impaired, color-blind, or who speak a different language from the one in which the post was shared in.
- User Experience
- Supports user experience by making sure your images appear in search results, driving more traffic/engagement to your website/social posts.
- Technical Reasons
- If a user has a poor internet connection or an image fails to load, the alt text can be displayed in its place, making certain users will still get information.
Weak Example of Alt. Text Caption
A photo of a crowd at a football game.
Why this caption doesn’t work:
- A screen reader will already identify that the item is a photo or graphic; therefore, adding this a second time would become confusing.
- When describing an image with alt-text, it is important to describe all of the relevant aspects of the photo. The photo is not just of a crowd at a football game. The subject of the photo is a young fan interacting with the Eagle Mascot.
Strong Alt. Text Caption
The GVHS Eagle Mascot shares a fist-bump with a young fan who is in the bleachers at a football game.
Why this works:
- Describes the focus of the photo and provides the end user with a visual for what was happening in the image.
- Is not too long. The longer the Alt. Text caption the less efficient the caption is.
- We avoid using direction to describe (Example: In the top center, more young fans watch the game).