Image Alt Test

An alt attribute, also known as "alt text" or "alternative text," is an HTML attribute used to provide a text description for images on a web page. It's added to the <img> tag like this:

<img src="example.jpg" alt="Description of the image">

The alt text serves as a textual replacement for the image when it cannot be displayed or accessed.

Alt attributes are important for several reasons:

1. Accessibility: They provide descriptions for visually impaired users who use screen readers.
2. SEO: Search engines use alt text to understand image content, improving image search rankings.
3. User Experience: Alt text displays when images fail to load, giving context to users.
4. Compliance: Many accessibility guidelines and regulations require alt text for images.
5. Contextual Information: They provide additional context to the surrounding content.

To add alt attributes to images, follow these steps:

1. In your HTML code, locate the <img> tag for the image you want to describe.
2. Add the alt attribute within the tag, followed by an equals sign and quotation marks.
3. Write a concise, descriptive text between the quotation marks.

Example:

<img src="red-apple.jpg" alt="A shiny red apple on a white background">

Best practices:

• Keep it concise but descriptive (typically under 125 characters)
• Be specific and accurate
• Avoid keyword stuffing
• Use empty alt attributes (alt="") for decorative images

Using alt attributes provides several SEO benefits:

1. Improved Image Search Visibility: Alt text helps search engines understand and index images, potentially improving rankings in image search results.
2. Keyword Opportunities: Relevant keywords in alt text can contribute to overall page relevance for those terms.
3. Enhanced Crawlability: Search engine bots can "read" alt text, helping them understand the context and content of the page.
4. Increased Accessibility: While primarily an accessibility feature, sites that are more accessible often perform better in search rankings.
5. Lower Bounce Rates: Properly described images can improve user experience, potentially reducing bounce rates and indirectly benefiting SEO.
6. Rich Results: Accurate alt text can help images appear in rich results or featured snippets, increasing visibility in search results.

Remember, while alt attributes are beneficial for SEO, their primary purpose is accessibility. Always prioritize accurate and helpful descriptions over keyword optimization.