{"id":147,"date":"2024-12-03T09:48:43","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T14:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/?p=147"},"modified":"2025-05-20T15:04:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T19:04:04","slug":"alternate-text-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/2024\/12\/alternate-text-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternate Text 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Written in collaboration with Laura Fathauer in <a href=\"https:\/\/miamioh.edu\/accessmu\">AccessMU<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Alternative Text?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternative Text (Alt text) is a non-visual way to describe the meaning of an image by using text. It should be used across all communication channels: email, social media, presentations, documents, websites, course materials, etc. Alt text helps people who are blind or have vision impairments, sensory processing disorders, or even learning disabilities. Making our images accessible means providing alternative ways to access the information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please provide a brief (under 100 characters) description of all images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Do We Need Alt Text?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternative text provides several services:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/axesslab.com\/what-is-a-screen-reader\/\">Screen readers<\/a> use alternative text to convey the image to the user.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In cases where an image is not loaded into a web page or email, the alternate text will display instead. Some users choose not to display images in the web browser and prefer to read the alternative text.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search engines use alternative text to assist in search results.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be specific and concise. Describe what is happening in the image in as few words as necessary to explain why the image is there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For accuracy, subject experts should assist in writing alt text for educational images.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The accepted practice for images varies depending on the use of the image.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If an image is in Canvas for educational purposes, a description of the image is required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Charts and graphs are examples of images that need detailed explanations so that sight-impaired users can access the data.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Images for an Art History course might also need longer explanations. Text descriptions should be in the captions for these images or included in the page content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some images, such as decorations or graphics, don&#8217;t contribute to the page&#8217;s content. These images can be more generally described or marked as decorative images.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to Avoid<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don\u2019t use the file name as the alternate text, such as \u201cspot-the-dog.jpg\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid using &#8220;image of&#8221; or &#8220;picture of&#8221; within the alternate text. A screen reader will automatically say &#8220;image of&#8221; before reading the text.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For images that also act as links, do not include&nbsp; &#8220;click here&#8221; or &#8220;link to&#8221; in the alternative text. The screen reader will automatically say &#8220;link&#8221; before reading the description. The alt text should describe the purpose of the link, not the visual representation (for example, &#8220;search&#8221; instead of &#8220;magnifying glass&#8221;).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid putting an image of an entire flyer in an email as the only information. Make sure to include the who, what, when, where, and why in the body as text.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search engines use alternate text to help provide meaningful search results. Don\u2019t try to boost your<a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/learn\/seo\/what-is-seo\"> SEO<\/a> by cramming in keywords that don\u2019t describe the image.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Alt Text Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-c085a69127365b8adc400340a81fa544\">Campus Scene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/dean-beena-mentoring-students-at-robotics-competition-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, Beena Sukumaran, judging the entry of two students during a high school robotics competition.\" class=\"wp-image-167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/dean-beena-mentoring-students-at-robotics-competition-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/dean-beena-mentoring-students-at-robotics-competition-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/dean-beena-mentoring-students-at-robotics-competition-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/dean-beena-mentoring-students-at-robotics-competition.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Alt Text:<\/strong> Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, Beena Sukumaran, judging the custom made entry of two students during a high school robotics competition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-e006f08e627eb09306816ed468c77b26\">Event Flyer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"956\" height=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/late-night-study-break-event-flyer.jpg\" alt=\"Late Night Study Break: Celebrate the end of the semester and enjoy a quick study break with breakfast items, Skippers, Bagel and Deli, SDS Pizza, and more! Monday, December 9, 2024, 10 p.m., at King Library. Sponsored by the Center for Student Engagement Activities, and Leadership, University Libraries, and Prime Student.\" class=\"wp-image-168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/late-night-study-break-event-flyer.jpg 956w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/late-night-study-break-event-flyer-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/late-night-study-break-event-flyer-768x498.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Alt Text:<\/strong> Late Night Study Break: Celebrate the end of the semester and enjoy a quick study break with breakfast items, Skippers, Bagel and Deli, SDS Pizza, and more! Monday, December 9, 2024, 10 p.m., at King Library. Sponsored by the Center for Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership; University Libraries; and Prime Student. Miami University.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-4cba42100d84d182eaa8b298c6d79fbc\">Pie Chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/pie-chart-alt-text-example.png\" alt=\"Monthly Engagement for December 2024: 30 pageviews, 15 clicks, 20 scrolls, and 10 form submissions.\" class=\"wp-image-165\" style=\"width:388px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/pie-chart-alt-text-example.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/pie-chart-alt-text-example-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/pie-chart-alt-text-example-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Alt Text:<\/strong> Monthly Engagement for December 2024: 30 pageviews, 15 clicks, 20 scrolls, and 10 form submissions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-cd47392ce7667e6f26cb2466847874f6\">Podcast with Transcript<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/screenshot-of-podcast-1024x611.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of a Spotify podcast episode from the Major Insight series: College Shapes Your Story\" class=\"wp-image-166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/screenshot-of-podcast-1024x611.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/screenshot-of-podcast-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/screenshot-of-podcast-768x459.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/files\/2024\/12\/screenshot-of-podcast.png 1266w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/miamioh.edu\/news\/podcasts\/major-insight\/2024\/11\/college-shapes-your-story.html\"><strong>View Full Podcast<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Transcripts:<\/strong> Podcasts should be paired with a full transcript of the conversation below it within the same page that you would find the media. In this example, if you scroll down on the page linked above, you will see an accordion with the text typed out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-proxima-nova-font-family has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>Want More?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking to learn even more about writing Alt Text?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a great article, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nngroup.com\/articles\/write-alt-text\/\"><em>Alt Text: What to Write<\/em><\/a>, from the Neilsen Norman Group.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written in collaboration with Laura Fathauer in AccessMU. What is Alternative Text? Alternative Text (Alt text) is a non-visual way to describe the meaning of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1073,"featured_media":159,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,34,16],"tags":[35,36],"class_list":["post-147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accessibility","category-email-marketing","category-web","tag-accessibility","tag-accessmu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1073"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147\/revisions\/192"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/in-the-loop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}