Writing Image-Alternative Decisions by Purpose
Writing Image-Alternative Decisions by Purpose records a distinct W3C-supported accessibility writing task while keeping implementation mechanics outside the writing guidance.
Choose the image alternative from what the image is doing in context: convey information, perform a function, reproduce text, present complex information, repeat nearby text, or decorate.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
The same image can need different treatment in different contexts; this guide is a decision framework, not a fixed alt-text phrase generator.
Further guidance
Content
Decide what text alternative to write only after determining whether the image is informative, functional, text-bearing, complex, redundant, or decorative in that specific context.
Purpose
Purpose-first classification prevents authors from writing literal descriptions when the image instead needs a functional label, equivalent information, or no spoken alternative at all.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- An alt Decision Tree — W3C WAI Images Tutorial (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative · W3C WAI decision guidance for choosing text-alternative treatment according to image purpose and context.