What is alternative text?
Alternative text, commonly known as 'alt text,' is an attribute of the img tag specifically designed for non-visual browsers. When an image is not visible on the page, alt text serves as an alternative description. Essentially, it provides textual content to replace the image for users who cannot see.
Where do I put the alternative text?
In Drupal, follow these steps:
- When inserting or editing an image, look for the 'Alternative Text' field.
- Enter your descriptive text in this field.
Updating alternative text of an existing image:
- Navigate to your image in the 'Media' section
- Select Edit
- Add new text in the Alt Text field
How to write good alternative text for images
- Be clear: Ensure your alt text provides enough context for understanding without being overly verbose.
- Be contextual: Describe the image appropriately based on its context. For example, if it's the University logo, use the text "Westfield State University" rather than "Westfield State University Logo." This ensures clarity and relevance.
Examples:
- "Campus" provides a brief and clear description.
- "Campus green" offers more detail, which can be helpful for users.
- "The campus green on a sunny day with seven trees surrounding the area and a chair to the left of Ely" is too lengthy and detailed. It exceeds the recommended length and might overwhelm users or cause issues with some browsers.
In summary, aim for alt text that strikes a balance between providing enough information for context and being concise enough to be easily understood.