Question: What is the purpose of the alt attribute in HTML images and how is it used?

The alt attribute in HTML is a critical aspect that contributes to web accessibility and SEO. It's short for 'alternate text,' and it's used within an <img> tag to provide a text description of an image.

This attribute serves several functions:

1. Accessibility: Helps screen-reading tools describe images to visually impaired readers.
2. SEO: Search engines use this text to understand what the image is about, influencing how your website ranks in image search results.
3. Fallback: In case an image fails to load, the alt text will be shown as a replacement.

Here's an example of how to use the alt attribute in HTML:

<img src='image.jpg' alt='Description of the Image'>

In this code, 'Description of the Image' should be replaced with a brief, accurate depiction of the image.

Note: While it's crucial to include alt attributes for SEO and accessibility, they should be meaningful. Avoid keyword stuffing, as this can result in a negative SEO impact.