How to Use Alt Text for Icons and Functional Images
Alt text, or alternative text, is an essential component of web accessibility and SEO, particularly when it comes to icons and functional images. Properly implemented, it enhances the user experience for visually impaired users and improves your website's search engine ranking. Understanding how to use alt text effectively can greatly benefit your site's visibility and inclusivity.
What is Alt Text?
Alt text is a descriptive text that appears in place of an image on a webpage if the image fails to load. More importantly, it provides context to assistive technologies, enabling users with visual impairments to understand the content conveyed by images. This is particularly significant for icons and functional images which serve specific roles on a webpage.
Why is Alt Text Important for Icons?
Icons are often used to represent actions, functions, or concepts in a visual manner. For instance, a shopping cart icon symbolizes the action of adding items to a cart. Providing accurate alt text for such icons aids in conveying their purpose to users who rely on screen readers. Additionally, search engines look for alt text to assess and index image content effectively.
Best Practices for Writing Alt Text for Icons
1. Keep It Concise: Alt text should be short and to the point. A phrase or a single sentence is usually sufficient to convey the icon's function.
2. Be Descriptive: Clearly describe what the icon represents. Instead of "icon," use specific terms like "search magnifying glass icon" or "download arrow icon" to accurately depict the purpose.
3. Avoid Redundancy: If the icon's function is already described in the surrounding text, you can use empty alt text (alt="") to avoid redundancy, allowing screen readers to skip it.
How to Use Alt Text for Functional Images
Functional images, unlike decorative images, carry meaning or serve a purpose on the webpage, such as buttons or links. Proper alt text is crucial for these elements to inform users how to interact with them.
1. Describe the Function: Clearly state what the user can expect by interacting with the image. For example, if an image is a button for submitting a form, the alt text could read "Submit your application." This informs users about the action they are about to take.
2. Include Action Words: Use verbs to indicate action, making it clear what will happen upon interaction. Phrases like "Click to learn more" or "Press to download" provide a straightforward understanding.
SEO Benefits of Proper Alt Text
Integrating well-crafted alt text can enhance your SEO strategy. Search engines use alt text to understand context and relevance, which can improve your site's ranking in search results. By strategically using keywords in your alt text (without stuffing), you signal to search engines the nature of the content, further increasing your chances of appearing in search queries.
Testing and Verification
Once alt texts are added, it's crucial to test their effectiveness. Use screen readers to experience your website as users do and check if the alt texts correctly convey the information. Additionally, tools like Google Lighthouse can evaluate your site's accessibility, ensuring that your alt text aligns with best practices.
Conclusion
Utilizing alt text for icons and functional images is vital for both accessibility and SEO. By following best practices, you can create an inclusive web experience that benefits all users while also boosting your site's performance on search engines. Always remember that every image has a purpose—make sure its meaning is accessible to everyone.