Alt text checklist

Use this when you add or review images. Tick the points as you go; nothing is saved or sent.

• Is the image purely decorative (a divider, a background texture)? Use an empty alt="" so screen readers skip it.
• Does the image carry information (a product, a person, a chart)? Describe what it communicates in this context, not every detail.
• Keep it short, usually under 125 characters, one sentence.
• Do not start with "image of" or "picture of"; screen readers already say it is an image.
• If the image contains text, include that text in the alt text (unless it is repeated next to it).
• If the image is a link or button, describe where it goes or what it does, not what it looks like.
• For charts and diagrams, give the key takeaway in the alt text and the full data as text nearby.
• Do not use the file name, the word "icon" or keyword lists.
• Read it aloud without the image. Does the page still make sense?

Related fix guide: Images missing alternative text

Automated testing detects only a portion of WCAG issues. Manual testing is required to assess full conformance.