H37: Using alt attributes on img elements

When using the img element, specify a short text alternative with the alt attribute. Note. The value of this attribute is referred to as "alt text".

When an image contains words that are important to understanding the content, the alt text should include those words. This will allow the alt text to play the same function on the page as the image. Note that it does not necessarily describe the visual characteristics of the image itself but must convey the same meaning as the image.

Resources are for information purposes only, no endorsement implied.

HTML 4.01 IMG element

HTML 4.01 alt attribute

• G82: Providing a text alternative that identifies the purpose of the non-text content
• H2: Combining adjacent image and text links for the same resource
• H24: Providing text alternatives for the area elements of image maps
• H30: Providing link text that describes the purpose of a link for anchor elements
• H45: Using longdesc

Procedure

1. Examine each img element in the content

2. Check that each img element which conveys meaning contains an alt attribute.

3. If the image contains words that are important to understanding the content, the words are included in the text alternative.

Expected Results

Checks #2 and #3 are true.

If this is a sufficient technique for a success criterion, failing this test procedure does not necessarily mean that the success criterion has not been satisfied in some other way, only that this technique has not been successfully implemented and can not be used to claim conformance.