alt text

[ awlt tekst ]

noun

, Digital Technology.

1. a written description of an image or other nontext content, included as an attribute in HTML code and rendered as text in place of the image or other element if it does not load on the web page or read by screen reader software at the point in the page sequence where the nontext element appears:

   If there’s no alt text for an image, a screen reader will read the filename—even if it’s just a string of numbers and letters.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alt text¹

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

They have sought to imbue the app with social norms, like encouraging users to post alt text with their pictures so that blind users can engage with them.

From Slate

“Threads was shipped without basic accessibility functions like an alt text field or an in-app captioning tool,” said Alexa Heinrich on Twitter.

From Los Angeles Times

The alt text fields - which are supposed to describe what's in the images for blind users - simply read: "We're growing the economy".

From BBC

Just two weeks ago, companies like McDonald's were criticised for posting the "click here" meme, which used alt text to hide jokes.

From BBC

But because this information is not included in the alt text, anyone using a screen reader will not know what it says.

From BBC