Alt text or alternative text describes the appearance or function of an image on a webpage. Screen readers read it aloud, assisting people with visual impairments and low vision.

Using alt text for images is crucial for ensuring accessibility for all your employees. By providing descriptive text for images, alt text allows screen readers to convey important visual information, fostering inclusivity and ensuring that everyone can engage with your content.

The Staffbase alt text feature enables editors to add alternative text to images in News Posts and Pages. 

Best Practices for Using Alt Texts

Following are some best practices for writing effective alt texts that are helpful, clear, and inclusive for all users:

• Be concise but descriptive: Provide a brief yet meaningful description that captures the image's key elements and purpose. Aim for 1–2 sentences.
• Consider context matters: Tailor the alt text to the context in which the image appears. Describe what is important to the content or purpose of the image, rather than every detail.
• Avoid using redundant phrases: Screen readers automatically indicate when they encounter an image; phrases such as "image of" or "picture of" are unnecessary.
• Focus on relevant information: Highlight details that convey the image's message or function within the content, such as text in an infographic or a specific action in a photo.
• Use proper punctuation: Screen readers rely on punctuation to understand the structure of text, so ensure your alt text is grammatically correct.
• Describe text within images: If an image contains important text, like a quote or headline, include this in the alt text.
• Don't overuse keywords: Avoid overloading alt text with unnecessary keywords. Focus on clarity and readability.
• Mention colors only when relevant: Describe colors only if they are important to the context. Here are some examples:
  • Relevant: A red traffic light signaling cars to stop.
  • Not relevant: A person wearing a blue shirt walking in the park. - Unless the blue shirt is important to the context.

Additional Helpful Information:

• Adding Alternative Text for Accessible Images