Image ALT attribute should not be empty, except for on known, decorative images

[joaooliveira]

Why is this important?

An image that has been marked with an empty alt attribute (alt="") but is not a decorative image is still an accessibility issue. This is because if the image provides value for a screen reader user and it is marked as empty then the image will not be read and the user would not be provided with the appropriate information that the image conveyed.

How can I resolve this issue?

Add an alternative text description as an attribute for all non decorative images.

What topics do this checkpoint affect?

• Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 Level A, 1.1.1)
• SEO

Can you explain how this checkpoint works?

The checkpoint examines the page and checks any <img> element. If the platform believes that one of those elements is not decorative it will flag the image if the alt attribute is empty.

References

• Understanding Success Criterion 1.1.1: Non-text Content
• G92: Providing long description for non-text content that serves the same purpose and presents the s...
• G94: Providing short text alternative for non-text content that serves the same purpose and presents...
• H37: Using alt attributes on img elements
• An alt Decision Tree