Answered by
Oliver Hall
"Image alt text" or "alt tags" are used within HTML code to describe the appearance and function of an image on a webpage. This is particularly useful for users who use screen readers, and it is also valuable for SEO, as it allows search engines to better understand the content of the image.
In terms of structure, when you add an image to your website, it can look something like this:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of image">
The alt
attribute is where you'll place the alternative text that describes the image. If the image fails to load or if a user is unable to see it, they will see (or hear, in the case of screen readers) the alt text instead.
It's recommended that you keep your alt text concise yet descriptive, and include any relevant keywords naturally without keyword stuffing. This not only improves accessibility but can also boost your visibility in image-based searches.
For example, if your website sells vintage cars and you have an image of a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, instead of leaving your alt tag empty or using a non-descriptive word like "car", you could write it like so:
<img src="1960-chevrolet-corvette.jpg" alt="1960 Chevrolet Corvette">
In this way, you're making sure that your images contribute towards your overall SEO strategy, improving the experience for all users regardless of how they interact with your website.