Question: What is the difference between img alt and title attributes in terms of accessibility?

Answer

Alt attribute and Title attribute both play important roles in web design, but they serve different purposes, especially regarding accessibility.

The alt attribute is used within an HTML document to specify alternative text for an image if it cannot be displayed. This is crucial for screen readers used by visually impaired users, as the text in the alt attribute will be read out loud in lieu of the image. It's also useful in situations where an image doesn't load due to network issues, the user will still get some information about what should have been there.

Here's an example of how you'd use the alt attribute:

<img src='path-to-image.jpg' alt='A beautiful sunset with shades of pink and orange'>

On the other hand, the title attribute provides extra information about the element and this info is typically shown as a tooltip when the mouse hovers over the element. However, its significance in accessibility is less defined. Some screen readers may read the title along with the alt text, which could lead to repeated or confusing information. Therefore, it's often recommended to prioritize the alt attribute for the sake of accessibility and only use the title attribute if it provides additional, beneficial information.

Here's an example of how you'd use the title attribute:

<img src='path-to-image.jpg' alt='A beautiful sunset' title='Photo taken at Hawaii beach during twilight'>

To summarize, for better web accessibility, always provide meaningful alt text for images. If additional information is necessary and beneficial, consider using the title attribute, but do so sparingly to avoid redundancy or confusion.

Other Common Image Alt Questions (and Answers)

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