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Alt Text vs. Image Descriptions
The terms “alt text” and “image description” are often used interchangeably, but they are in fact different.
Alt text is a short, concise text description, however, you can make it longer if you want it to be more descriptive. It’s added to an image tag in the HTML code of a webpage or through a platform’s designated alt text field. While normally brief, alt text should still accurately convey the content and function of an image. It’s also commonly referred to as an “alt tag” or “alt attribute” when used in web development projects.
An image description, on the other hand, is a more detailed description of an image and it’s provided in the content of the webpage, typically near the image or as a visible caption. On a social media platform, it would be in the body of your post.
The purpose of an image description is to provide additional context and information about a visual, beyond what can be conveyed in short alt text. Image descriptions may include details such as the colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and other elements in an image, as well as its context and meaning.
In short, you should think of an image description as a more robust version of alt text. It gives additional details to create a more informative description of an image and is normally preferred to alt text when it comes to accessibility.
Let’s use the below image as an example. The alt text and image description for it would be very different.
- Alt Text: Pancakes
- Image Description: A stack of pancakes covered in gooey syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh fruit on a white ceramic plate.
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