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Alternative Text for Images

Describe an image’s information or function without duplicating nearby text or treating alt text as an SEO field.

Veyra Admin

2 min read

  • Article
  • Beginner
  • 2 minutes read
  • Reviewed August 4, 2026

Alternative text communicates the purpose of an image when the image cannot be seen or loaded.

The correct text depends on context. The same image can need different treatment on different pages.

Informative Images

Describe the information that the image contributes.

Keep the alternative concise. If the image contains complex data, provide a short alt text and a longer explanation nearby.

Decorative Images

A purely decorative image should normally use empty alternative text so that a screen reader can ignore it.

Decorative does not mean visually unimportant. It means the image adds no information or function beyond the surrounding content.

Functional Images

When an image acts as a link or button, describe the action or destination.

For example, a logo linking to the homepage can use the organization name rather than “logo image.”

Images of Text

Avoid using images of text when styled HTML text can provide the same result.

Logos and essential visual examples can be exceptions. Provide equivalent text.

Complex Images

Charts, diagrams and infographics may require:

  • A concise alt attribute.
  • A caption.
  • A detailed explanation.
  • An accessible data table.
  • A linked long description.

The explanation should communicate the conclusion and essential data.

WordPress Fields

The Media Library can store alt text, caption, title and description. They serve different purposes.

Reusing stored alt text can be convenient, but the correct alternative still depends on the image’s use in the current page.

What to Avoid

Do not:

  • Start every alternative with “image of.”
  • Add keyword lists.
  • Repeat the entire caption.
  • Describe decorative flourishes.
  • Leave filenames as alt text.
  • Depend on automatic generation without review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should every image have written alt text?

Every image needs an alt attribute, but decorative images normally use an empty value.

Does alt text improve SEO?

It can help search systems understand images, but its primary purpose is accessibility.

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