Alt tag

What Is Alt Attribute in <img> Tag And Why Is It Important?

The alt attribute is a required attribute for all images. It provides a brief description of the image. This allows people who are unable to see the image, such as those with visual impairments, to still understand what the image is about. The alt attribute is also important for search engine optimization, as it helps search engines understand what the image is about.

By including alt text in your img tags, you're ensuring that your content is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or circumstance. The alt attribute is important  to improve your website's accessibility, because it is read aloud by screen readers. It is also shown if image fails to load. Alt tag is also very important for SEO. Alt tags help search engines understand your content better, which may improve your overall page ranking in search engines.

The alt text should be clear and concise, and should describe the content of the image. It is important to remember that not all users will be able to see the image, so the alt text should be able to stand on its own.

Use Alt Attributes For Better Accessibility of Your Website and SEO Ranking

It's no secret that images are an important part of the web. They help break up content, make pages more visually appealing, and can even convey information more effectively than text in some cases.

But did you know that images can also be a major SEO asset?

That's right, by properly tagging your images with the right "alt" text, you can help improve your site's ranking in search engines, and ultimately drive more traffic to your site.

So, what is alt text, and why is it so important?

Alt text, or "alternative text", is a text description of an image that is used by search engines to understand the content of an image. It is also used by screen readers, which are used by people who are visually impaired, to describe the images on a page.

The alt text should be a brief, but accurate, description of the image. It should include the key keyword or phrase that you're trying to rank for, as well as any other relevant information that would be useful to know.

How To Use Alt Tags With Your Images

Let's say , for example, you have an image of a dog on your site. The alt text might be something like "cute golden retriever puppy".

Not only does this accurately describe the image, but it also includes the keyword "golden retriever", which is something that people might search for when looking for a new pet.

Including keywords in your alt text is a great way to help improve your site's SEO, but it's important to not go overboard. Stuffing your alt text with too many keywords will not only make it difficult to read, but it could also get you penalized by search engines.

So, how do you find the right balance?

A good rule of thumb is to keep your alt text short, sweet, and to the point. A few well-chosen keywords should do the trick.

It is also good to keep in mind, that search engines still cannot understand images, only their alt attributes. That's why it is good to include keywords you wish your page to rank for in search engines. But avoid spamming alt tags with keywords. It is always for the alt tag to be relevant and descriptive to the image first, than try to find opportunities to add keywords. 

Of course, not all images on your site will be able to be described with keywords. In cases where an image is purely decorative, or if the content of the image is self-explanatory, you can simply use a brief description, such as "decorative image of a flower" or "picture of a cat".

Benefits of using alt tags in your images

1. Alt tags improve accessibility.

If you are using images on your website, it is important to include Alt tags so that people with visual impairments can still understand the content on your website.

2. Alt tags help search engines to index your images.

If you want your images to be found by search engines, you need to include Alt tags.

3. Alt tags improve the user experience.

If an image does not load, the Alt tag will be displayed instead.

This means that the user will still be able to understand the content on your website.

4. Alt tags are used by screen readers.

Screen readers are used by people who are blind or have low vision.

They read the Alt tags of images so that the user can understand the content on your website.

5. Alt tags are used by text-only browsers.

Text-only browsers are used by people who do not have access to a graphical web browser.

They read the Alt tags of images so that the user can understand the content on your website.

6. Alt tags are used by search engines and can help your SEO

Search engines use the Alt tags of images to help determine the content of your website, which may improve your page rankings.

7. Alt tags are used by social media sites.

When you share an image on social media, the Alt tag is used to provide a description of the image.

8. Alt tags are used by developers.

Developers often use Alt tags to provide a text description of an image.

This is helpful when testing websites or software.

9. Alt tags are required by the W3C.

The W3C, or World Wide Web Consortium, is the organization that sets standards for the web.

They have stated that all images must have an Alt tag.

Tips For Writing Good Alt Text

1. Keep it short and descriptive. Make sure that the alt text is relevant to the image. Consider, how your alt text is helping to the overall understanding of the content on your webpage.

2. Use keywords that accurately describe the image together with keywords you intend your webpage to rank for. But use keywords judiciously – don't stuff them in just for the sake of it.

3. Avoid using text and words that are lengthy or difficult to read or understand. Use natural language – don't try to sound like a robot. Also, avoid using generic terms like "image" or "photo".

4. Use empty alternative text when an image is used for decorative purposes.

5. Use empty alt text when an image is not important to the content of the page.

Summary

Image alt descriptions are an important part of making your website accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. They also help search engines to understand your images better and get better picture of your overall website's content. By following the best practices and rules laid out in this article, you ensure that your website is accessible and you get the most SEO benefit from enriching your webpages with images.