Alt Text Generator
Generate SEO-friendly, accessible image alt text with AI. Improve your website's accessibility and search rankings with optimized alt text variations.
Describe Your Image
Provide details about the image to generate optimized alt text
Describe what's in the image, the context, and any important details
Include a keyword to improve SEO
What Makes Good Alt Text?
Alt text serves two critical purposes: helping visually impaired users understand images and improving SEO. Our AI generates variations optimized for both.
No Alt Text Yet
Describe your image and click "Generate" to create alt text
Your AI-generated alt text will appear here
Alt Text Length Guide
Understanding Image Alt Text: Why It Matters
Alt text (alternative text) is a crucial element of web accessibility and SEO. It provides a text description of images for screen readers used by visually impaired users and helps search engines understand image content. When images fail to load, alt text displays in their place, ensuring users still understand the context.
People in the US use screen readers
Image search share of Google searches
Required for WCAG 2.1 compliance
Best Practices for Writing Alt Text
Be Specific and Descriptive
Describe what's actually in the image. Instead of "dog," write "golden retriever puppy playing with a red ball in a park." Specific details help users visualize the image and improve SEO.
Skip "Image of" or "Picture of"
Screen readers already announce that it's an image. Starting with "image of" is redundant and wastes valuable characters. Jump straight to the description.
Keep It Concise (50-125 Characters)
Screen readers may truncate very long alt text. Aim for 50-125 characters—enough to be descriptive but concise enough to be useful. Focus on the most important elements.
Consider Context
Alt text should match the image's purpose in the content. A product photo needs different alt text than the same image used decoratively. Consider why the image is there.
Include Keywords Naturally
If a keyword fits naturally, include it. Don't force keywords or keyword stuff—it hurts both user experience and SEO. Prioritize accuracy and helpfulness over keyword density.
Describe Text in Images
If an image contains important text (like an infographic or chart), describe both the visual elements and transcribe any essential text. Consider using longdesc for complex diagrams.
Alt Text for SEO vs Accessibility
While alt text serves both SEO and accessibility, the priorities can differ. Here's how to balance both:
For Accessibility
- •Focus on what visually impaired users need to know
- •Describe the image content and context clearly
- •Include important details like emotions, actions, colors
- •Avoid keyword stuffing that clutters the description
- •Write naturally, as if describing to someone on the phone
For SEO
- •Include target keywords naturally where appropriate
- •Help search engines understand image relevance
- •Optimize for image search visibility
- •Match image to surrounding content topic
- •Stay within optimal character count for indexing
The Perfect Balance
The best alt text serves both purposes. Write for humans first (accessibility), then optimize for search engines. A clear, accurate description will naturally include relevant keywords and satisfy both needs. When in doubt, prioritize accessibility—it's the original purpose of alt text and benefits all users.
Common Alt Text Mistakes to Avoid
Keyword Stuffing
Bad: "SEO tools, best SEO tools, free SEO tools, SEO software, SEO checker"
Good: "Dashboard showing SEO analysis metrics and optimization recommendations"
Too Vague or Generic
Bad: "Image", "Photo", "Picture1.jpg"
Good: "Team meeting in a modern conference room with laptops and presentation screen"
Using File Names
Bad: "IMG_4532.jpg", "screenshot-2024-01-15.png"
Good: "Mobile app analytics dashboard showing user growth chart"
Leaving Alt Text Empty
Bad: alt="" for meaningful images
Good: Provide descriptive alt text for all content images. Use alt="" only for purely decorative images.
Including "Image of" or "Picture of"
Bad: "Image of a sunset over the ocean"
Good: "Sunset over the Pacific Ocean with orange and pink sky"
Too Long and Rambling
Bad: "This is a photograph that was taken last summer during our company retreat showing a group of employees having fun at the beach with some playing volleyball while others are sitting under umbrellas..." (200+ characters)
Good: "Company employees playing beach volleyball and relaxing under umbrellas at summer retreat" (89 characters)
When to Leave Alt Text Empty
Not all images need descriptive alt text. Some images are purely decorative and should use empty alt text (alt="") to avoid cluttering the screen reader experience.
✓Use Empty Alt Text For:
- • Decorative borders, dividers, or spacers
- • Background images that are purely aesthetic
- • Icons that are accompanied by text labels
- • Images used only for visual layout or design
- • Redundant images where the information is already in text
✗Always Describe These Images:
- • Product images in e-commerce
- • Informative charts, graphs, or diagrams
- • Photographs that add context to content
- • Logos and branding when used as links
- • Images of text (infographics, quotes, etc.)
- • Images used as buttons or interactive elements
Rule of thumb: If removing the image would cause users to miss important information or context, it needs descriptive alt text. If the image is purely decorative and removing it wouldn't affect understanding, use empty alt text.
Alt Text for Different Image Types
Product Images
Include product name, key features, color, and any distinguishing characteristics.
"Red wireless Bluetooth headphones with noise cancellation"Infographics
Summarize the key data or message. Consider using longdesc for complex infographics.
"Infographic: 5 steps to improve website speed, from image optimization to caching"Charts & Graphs
Describe the type of chart and the key trend or finding it shows.
"Line graph showing 45% increase in organic traffic from Jan to Dec 2024"Photographs
Describe who/what is in the photo, the setting, and relevant context.
"Software engineer debugging code on dual monitors in home office"Screenshots
Explain what the screenshot shows and its purpose in the content.
"Google Analytics dashboard displaying traffic sources breakdown"Icons & Logos
Name the brand or describe the icon's function if interactive.
"Twitter logo" or "Download button"Frequently Asked Questions
What's the ideal alt text length?▼
50-125 characters is optimal. This range is long enough to be descriptive but short enough to avoid being truncated by screen readers. Some screen readers cut off alt text after 125 characters, though this varies. Focus on quality over quantity—pack the most important information into the beginning.
Does alt text help with SEO rankings?▼
Yes, but it's one of many factors. Alt text helps search engines understand image content, which can improve rankings in both regular search and image search. It's especially valuable for image-heavy pages. However, it's not a magic bullet—focus on accuracy and user experience first, SEO second.
Should I include keywords in every alt text?▼
Only when it's natural and accurate. Don't force keywords into alt text. If your target keyword accurately describes the image, include it. If not, focus on accurate description instead. Keyword stuffing in alt text can actually hurt your SEO and violates accessibility guidelines.
What's the difference between alt text and image captions?▼
Alt text is for screen readers; captions are visible to everyone. Alt text describes the image for those who can't see it. Captions provide additional context for all users. They serve different purposes and should contain different information. A good caption might reference the alt text but adds context like source, date, or relevance.
Do I need alt text for background images?▼
Only if they convey important information. Decorative background images set via CSS don't need alt text—they're invisible to screen readers. However, if a background image contains important content or text, consider making it a regular <img> tag with proper alt text instead.
How do I write alt text for complex diagrams or charts?▼
Use alt text for a brief summary, then provide detailed description via: (1) The longdesc attribute linking to a full description, (2) Nearby text in the page explaining the chart, or (3) An expandable "Description" section. For data tables, consider providing the actual data in an accessible HTML table format.
Can I use emojis in alt text?▼
Avoid emojis in alt text. Screen readers announce emojis by their full Unicode names, which can be verbose and disruptive. For example, "😊" is read as "smiling face with smiling eyes." Stick to plain text descriptions. If an emoji is essential to the meaning, describe it in words.
Is alt text required by law?▼
Yes, in many jurisdictions. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar laws in other countries require websites to be accessible. WCAG 2.1 Level A compliance (the minimum) requires alt text for all meaningful images. Beyond legal requirements, it's the right thing to do for inclusivity.
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