Free tool
Alt Text Checker
Enter a URL to list every image on the page and instantly see which are missing alt text, which are marked decorative, and which are done right.
Why alt text matters
Images without a text alternative are invisible to people who use screen readers — they hear nothing, or just a filename. Alt text is the most common accessibility issue on the web and a Level A requirement under WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content, referenced by the European Accessibility Act.
How to write good alt text
- Describe the image’s purpose in context, not every pixel.
- Keep it concise — a sentence is usually enough.
- Use empty
alt=""for decorative images so they’re skipped. - Don’t start with “image of” — screen readers already announce it’s an image.
For deeper guidance see our guide on how to write alt text.
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Run a full accessibility scanFAQ
What is alt text?
Alt text is a short written description of an image, read aloud by screen readers and shown when an image fails to load. It’s required by WCAG 1.1.1 for informative images.
When should alt text be empty?
Purely decorative images (borders, spacers, background flourishes) should use an empty alt attribute (alt="") so screen readers skip them.
What makes good alt text?
Describe the image’s purpose in context, concisely. Avoid “image of”, don’t stuff keywords, and for charts or complex images provide the key information in nearby text.