6. Write Meaningful Text Alternatives for Images

For every image, write alternative text ("alt text") that provides the information or function of the image. It is read aloud by a screen reader, enabling someone who can't see the image to access the meaning of the image. For purely decorative images, there is no need to write alternative text. In Moodle, you add alternative text to the Image Properties when you add an image.

More Information:


Alternative text is required for all images.

Writing good alt text can be tricky, so take some time to view the WebAIM tutorial "How to Write Appropriate alt Text." (You can skip the parts about HTML.) To get you started, here are some basic guidelines for writing it, depending on whether the image is active, informational, redundant, or textual.

 

Open the IUB Adaptive Technology and Accessibility Center website

Active Images

  • The image serves as a link or button. Clicking it or hovering over it causes something to happen.
  • Use alt text that conveys the function of the image (for example, "View map of Antarctica").
 Map of eastern North America displaying how warm water travels up the coastline

Informational Images

  • The image is not active but conveys information that is not given in a caption or the body of the content.
  • Use alternative text that conveys the same information as the image.
""

Decorative/Redundant Images

  • The image is redundant to the text or conveys no information.
  • Use alt=”” for the alternative text.
 This is an example of a textual image

Textual Images

  • The image is of text.
  • Use alternative text that is the same as the text in the image.