Guides / Image alternatives

Write for the image’s job

A photograph can need different alternatives on different pages.

Start with the page rather than an inventory of objects. What would a reader miss if this image were unavailable? Your answer depends on the image's role in the surrounding content.

One photograph, three contexts

Imagine a red ceramic cup with a curved handle. In a catalogue, its distinguishing appearance might matter. In an article about a chipped rim, the damage may be the important detail. In a layout where the cup contributes no information, a decorative treatment may be appropriate. These decisions cannot be read from a file alone.

Keep a context note

Record what nearby text already explains and what the image adds. Altfolio keeps this note separate from the publication draft. It is included in JSON and CSV, but not in the HTML alt attribute. A reviewer can then judge your words against the intended page.

Review after transfer

This desk cannot inspect your website, caption, link or surrounding content. Review the final page as well as the draft. The W3C WAI decision tree can help you choose the treatment. A completed field here is not an accessibility certification.