Guides / Image alternatives

Go beyond a visual inventory

Controls and data graphics need purpose-aware review.

A button icon and a chart are both images, but describing their appearance alone may not convey what a reader needs.

Functional images

For an image used as a link or control, W3C WAI recommends communicating the function. A magnifying-glass drawing might start a search. Merely naming its shape can miss its job. Altfolio's Functional choice reminds you to review that purpose; the desk cannot inspect the actual control's accessible name.

Complex images

A chart or process diagram can require detailed information in nearby text or a separate description. A short alternative does not replace a data table or a full explanation. Use the context note to record where the detail will appear, then ensure it really exists in the final page.

A handoff example

For a fictional quarterly sales chart, a context note might say that a neighbouring table contains each quarter and amount. The short alternative can identify the comparison. Altfolio exports the image snippet, not the promised table or linked description.

Consult the W3C guides to functional images and complex images while reviewing your implementation.