Alt text tags
What do I need to do?
Include "alternate text" for all images including graphs, pictures, logos, etc.
How do I do this?
Every image or graphic should have corresponding alternative text, called "alt text," describing the information conveyed by the image. For example, a picture of a child eating ice cream may be coded: <IMG src= "child.gif" width="75" height="75" alt= "child eating ice cream">. If an image is simply decorative and does not convey any additional information, an alt tag of alt= " " should be used.
Why does this matter?
Either by choice or necessity, not everyone can see images on their screen. Screen readers rely on alternate text tags to convey information contained in graphical images. In addition, people using slow internet connections, PDAs or cell phones often disable graphics to decrease download times. Alt tags provide users with a description of the image they cannot see.
For more detailed information, consult the WebAIM tutorial.
