WiscWeb - Using Alternative (Alt) Text

Alternative (Alt) Text should be added to images to increase accessibility of your site. Alternative text provides meaning and description to images read by screen readers. This document will walk you through how to add alt text to your images in WiscWeb, and will direct you to resources for crafting your alt text.

In this document:

Purpose and use
Considerations
Adding alt text or captions to images in WiscWeb
Resources

Purpose and use

Alternative text describes in words the non-text elements of a web page or document, such as photos, drawings or charts. You can add it as the form of an alt attribute and as captions. In WordPress, this is done through editing the image via your Media Library.

Considerations

From WebAim.org, alternative text is a textual substitute for non-text content in web pages.

Alternative text serves several functions:

Screen readers announce alternative text in place of images, helping users with visual or certain cognitive disabilities perceive the content and function of the images.
If an image fails to load or the user has blocked images, the browser will present the alternative text visually in place of the image.
Search engines use alternative text and factor it into their assessment of the page purpose and content.

Adding alt text to images in WiscWeb

When uploading Media, there are two fields that should users should populate immediately.
- The Title field provides an ability to search for the media based on name of the media item.
- The Alt Text field, which will make this image accessible for visitors to your site.
- The Caption field, which will allow you to add additional information to your images.

Resources