In this section, we will explore the importance of providing text alternatives for images on the web, how to implement them effectively, and the impact they have on accessibility. Text alternatives are crucial for users who rely on screen readers or have visual impairments, ensuring that all users can access the content and context of images.

1. What are Text Alternatives?

   • Text alternatives, often referred to as "alt text," are descriptions added to images in HTML to convey the content and function of the image to users who cannot see it.

2. Importance of Text Alternatives

   • They provide essential information to screen readers, allowing visually impaired users to understand the image's purpose.
   • They improve SEO by helping search engines understand the content of images.
   • They serve as a fallback when images fail to load.

3. When to Use Text Alternatives

   • For all informative images that convey content or context.
   • For functional images, such as buttons or links, where the image's function needs to be described.
   • Decorative images that do not add information can have empty alt attributes (alt="").

To add a text alternative to an image in HTML, use the alt attribute within the <img> tag:

1. Informative Image

   <img src="chart.png" alt="Bar chart showing sales growth from 2019 to 2020">
   

   Explanation: This alt text provides a concise summary of the chart's content, allowing users to understand the data without seeing the image.

2. Functional Image

   <img src="submit-button.png" alt="Submit form">
   

   Explanation: Here, the alt text describes the function of the image, which is crucial for users navigating with screen readers.

3. Decorative Image

   <img src="decorative-border.png" alt="">
   

   Explanation: Since the image is purely decorative, an empty alt attribute is used to ensure screen readers skip it.

Exercise: Add appropriate text alternatives to the following images:

Solution:

Feedback: Ensure that the alt text is descriptive enough to convey the image's purpose or content. Avoid redundancy, such as starting with "Image of" or "Picture of."

• Overly Long Descriptions: Keep alt text concise. If an image requires a lengthy description, consider providing additional context in the surrounding text or using a longdesc attribute.
• Redundancy: Avoid repeating information already provided in the surrounding text.
• Missing Alt Attributes: Always include an alt attribute, even if it's empty for decorative images.

Providing text alternatives for images is a fundamental aspect of web accessibility. By ensuring that all images have appropriate alt text, you enhance the user experience for individuals with disabilities and improve the overall accessibility of your website. In the next section, we will delve into creating accessible JavaScript widgets, building on the principles of accessibility we've covered so far.