http://nerd.vasilis.nl/how-to-use-the-alt-attribute-or-alt-text/ Vasilis van Gemert Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:54:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://nerd.vasilis.nl/how-to-use-the-alt-attribute-or-alt-text/#comment-185 Marcel Korpel Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:15:34 +0000 http://nerd.vasilis.nl/?p=121#comment-185 You can also use <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/402" rel="nofollow">Fangs</a> to see what a screen reader would read. You can also use Fangs to see what a screen reader would read.

]]> http://nerd.vasilis.nl/how-to-use-the-alt-attribute-or-alt-text/#comment-184 Paul Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:33:53 +0000 http://nerd.vasilis.nl/?p=121#comment-184 Ah, I was convinced screen readers took the title attribute into account for <a> tags. I think that they should, but that is a different discussion. I made adding alt tags for images a habit, as to be sure to pass any automated usability tests. The User Adopts To The System, you see... Ah, I was convinced screen readers took the title attribute into account for <a> tags. I think that they should, but that is a different discussion. I made adding alt tags for images a habit, as to be sure to pass any automated usability tests. The User Adopts To The System, you see…

]]> http://nerd.vasilis.nl/how-to-use-the-alt-attribute-or-alt-text/#comment-183 Vasilis Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:46:13 +0000 http://nerd.vasilis.nl/?p=121#comment-183 If you don't provide an alt text to an image in a link you can't follow that link when the image isn't there (for whatever reason, but also screenreaders), the title attribute is switched off by default in most screenreaders for accessibility purposes, too much bloat. So the title attribute only shows a tooltip in most browsers which can be quite annoying. Now, if I write an article about my cat and I show a picture of this cat. Is it relevant to add the text "a picture of my cat" to that image? It doesn't make any sense but it's not part of the layout, it's part of the content. It enhances the content for those who can see it but we don't need it. The phrase 'A picture of my cat' somewhere in the article would probably be confusing to most readers. Tip: read the article in Lynx and see if the images still make sense. If you don’t provide an alt text to an image in a link you can’t follow that link when the image isn’t there (for whatever reason, but also screenreaders), the title attribute is switched off by default in most screenreaders for accessibility purposes, too much bloat. So the title attribute only shows a tooltip in most browsers which can be quite annoying.
Now, if I write an article about my cat and I show a picture of this cat. Is it relevant to add the text “a picture of my cat” to that image? It doesn’t make any sense but it’s not part of the layout, it’s part of the content. It enhances the content for those who can see it but we don’t need it. The phrase ‘A picture of my cat’ somewhere in the article would probably be confusing to most readers.
Tip: read the article in Lynx and see if the images still make sense.

]]> http://nerd.vasilis.nl/how-to-use-the-alt-attribute-or-alt-text/#comment-182 Paul Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:32:20 +0000 http://nerd.vasilis.nl/?p=121#comment-182 Shouldn't you begin with the question 'Is this picture part of my content or part of my layout?' If it is content, the ALT attribute should be filled properly. If the image only serves layout purposes, try substituting it with CSS and semantically relevant HTML. If the image is part of a link, I think you should use the title attribute of the <A> tag, not inserting ALT text regarding the link into the image. Shouldn’t you begin with the question ‘Is this picture part of my content or part of my layout?’
If it is content, the ALT attribute should be filled properly. If the image only serves layout purposes, try substituting it with CSS and semantically relevant HTML. If the image is part of a link, I think you should use the title attribute of the tag, not inserting ALT text regarding the link into the image.

]]> http://nerd.vasilis.nl/how-to-use-the-alt-attribute-or-alt-text/#comment-181 Vasilis Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:17:35 +0000 http://nerd.vasilis.nl/?p=121#comment-181 Well thank you very much, that's too kind! Well thank you very much, that’s too kind!

]]> http://nerd.vasilis.nl/how-to-use-the-alt-attribute-or-alt-text/#comment-180 Mathias Bynens Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:13:46 +0000 http://nerd.vasilis.nl/?p=121#comment-180 Well said! +2 internets to you, kind Sir. Well said! +2 internets to you, kind Sir.

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