Why is alt text important?
Imagine some of the most iconic images from throughout history, four men walking across a zebra crossing in North London, a tiny figure falls from a burning skyscraper, a line of tanks are stopped in their tracks by a lone man on his way back from the shops...
These images have changed our mood, our minds and perhaps even history.
But if you're one of the 2.2 billion people with sight loss you'll rely on alt text to understand these images. Alt text is important because it gives blind and partially sighted people access to the same images sighted people enjoy, but through descriptive text.
Reasons alt text is important
Accessibility
Alt text makes web content accessible to people with visual impairments by providing them with a description of the images on the web page.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
Search engines use alt text to understand the content of the images, which can improve the visibility and ranking of a webpage in search engine results.
User Experience
Alt text enhances the overall user experience by providing content and information about the images, even for users who can see the images but may not fully understand their content or purpose.