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CSS

Posted by Danny Lee
Danny Lee
660 Points

Alternate Text

HI, I'm building the first website "Smells Like Bacon" and I have a weird question. I understand that I have to add the alternate text after the image file. As the example below:

<img src="img/you-bake-me-blush.gif" alt="You Bake Me Blush">

I deleted the alternate text which is alt=" You Bake Me Blush" Nothing changed the image.

So why do I need to add alternate text? What is it for?

Any help would be appreciated!

5 Answers

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Check out Provide Proper Attributes for Images & Links section on the coding practices page of Shay Howe's Learn HTML & CSS Guide.

Here's a great decision tree about using alt properties

Elliott Frazier
PLUS
Elliott Frazier
Courses Plus Student 9,647 Points
Elliott Frazier
Elliott Frazier
Courses Plus Student 9,647 Points

You use the alt attribute for three reasons:

1. For bad sighted people who rely on screen readers.

2. Better SEO(Search Engine Optimization).

3. If your Image fails to load the alt attribute's value takes it's place.

jeff creamer
jeff creamer
23,733 Points
jeff creamer
jeff creamer
23,733 Points

One of the reasons is accessibility; the ability for screen-readers, for instance, to relay a description or title of the content to those with visual impairments, etc. accessing the web with assistive devices.

Chase Lee
Chase Lee
29,275 Points
Chase Lee
Chase Lee
29,275 Points

When you hover over the image and see that little pice of text where your mouse is. That's what the alt is doing.

Elliott Frazier
Elliott Frazier
Courses Plus Student 9,647 Points

I believe you are referring to the title attribute.

Chase Lee
Chase Lee
29,275 Points

Maybe. Not everything sticks to me and I get mixed up sometimes. :confused:

Danny Lee
Danny Lee
660 Points
Danny Lee
Danny Lee
660 Points

Thanks guys for the helpful and useful answers. That helped me a lot!

I appreciate that.