To check if images have alt text is a critical step for any website owner, SEO specialist, or content creator. Alt text (alternative text) is a brief description added to an image's HTML code, which serves both accessibility and SEO purposes. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about alt text, why it's essential, and how to audit your images effectively using our free Alt Text Checker tool.

What Is Alt Text and Why Does It Matter?

Alt text is a written description of an image that appears if the image fails to load and is read aloud by screen readers for visually impaired users. It also helps search engines understand the content of an image, which can improve your site's ranking in image search results. Without alt text, you miss out on valuable SEO opportunities and create barriers for users with disabilities.

The Role of Alt Text in SEO

Search engines like Google use alt text as a signal to understand what an image represents. By including relevant keywords in your alt text, you can help your images rank higher in image searches and potentially drive more organic traffic to your site. However, it's crucial to use keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing, as that can harm your rankings.

Accessibility and User Experience

Alt text is a cornerstone of web accessibility. Screen readers rely on it to describe images to users who are blind or have low vision. By providing descriptive alt text, you ensure that all users can access the information conveyed by your images, improving their overall experience on your site.

How to Check if Images Have Alt Text: Manual Methods

Before diving into automated tools, it's helpful to know how to check alt text manually. Here are a few simple methods:

Using Browser Developer Tools

Right-click on any image in your browser and select "Inspect" (or "Inspect Element"). This opens the developer tools with the image's HTML highlighted. Look for the alt attribute within the <img> tag. If it's present and has a value, the image has alt text. If the attribute is missing or empty (alt=""), it doesn't.

Viewing Page Source

You can also view the page source by pressing Ctrl+U (Windows) or Cmd+U (Mac). Search for <img tags and check each one for the alt attribute. This method is tedious for pages with many images but works for quick checks.

Using Browser Extensions

Several browser extensions can highlight images without alt text. For example, the "Web Developer" extension for Chrome and Firefox has a feature that outlines images missing alt attributes. This is a quick visual way to spot problem images.

Using the Alt Text Checker Tool for a Comprehensive Audit

Manual methods are fine for a few images, but if you have a large website with dozens or hundreds of images, you need a more efficient solution. Our Alt Text Checker tool scans your entire webpage and identifies all images that are missing alt text or have empty alt attributes. It's fast, free, and provides a clear report.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Tool

1. Visit the Alt Text Checker page.
2. Enter the URL of the page you want to check in the input field.
3. Click the "Check Alt Text" button.
4. Wait a few seconds while the tool crawls the page.
5. Review the results: the tool will list all images found, indicating which have alt text, which are missing it, and which have empty alt attributes.

Understanding the Results

The tool categorizes images into three groups:

• With Alt Text: These images have a non-empty alt attribute. You can see the actual alt text to verify its quality.
• Missing Alt Text: These images have no alt attribute at all. They need immediate attention.
• Empty Alt Text: These images have an alt attribute but it's empty (alt=""). This is often used for decorative images, but if the image is informative, you should add descriptive text.

Benefits of Using an Alt Text Checker

Automating the process of checking alt text offers several advantages:

Saves Time and Effort

Manually inspecting every image on a page is time-consuming, especially for content-heavy sites. The tool does it in seconds, freeing you to focus on fixing the issues.

Ensures Consistency

Manual checks can miss images, but a tool scans every single one, ensuring no image is overlooked.

Helps Prioritize Fixes

By seeing a clear list of images missing alt text, you can prioritize which ones to fix first, especially those that are important for SEO or user understanding.

Best Practices for Writing Effective Alt Text

Once you've identified images without alt text, you need to write good alt text. Here are some guidelines:

Be Descriptive and Specific

Describe what's in the image as if you were explaining it to someone over the phone. For example, instead of "dog," use "a golden retriever puppy playing with a red ball in a park."

Keep It Concise

Screen readers cut off alt text at around 125 characters, so aim for under that. Be succinct but informative.

Use Keywords Naturally

Incorporate relevant keywords, but only if they fit naturally. For instance, if your page is about "best hiking boots," an image of a boot could have alt text like "person wearing waterproof hiking boots on a rocky trail."

Don't Stuff Keywords

Avoid cramming multiple keywords into alt text. It's bad for user experience and can be penalized by search engines.

Use Empty Alt for Decorative Images

If an image is purely decorative and adds no information, use alt="" so screen readers skip it. This prevents unnecessary noise for assistive technology users.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Checking Alt Text

When auditing your images, watch out for these pitfalls:

Ignoring Empty Alt Attributes

An empty alt attribute is not necessarily a problem if the image is decorative. However, if the image is informative, it's a mistake to leave it empty. Always evaluate the image's purpose.

Using File Names as Alt Text

Some people mistakenly use the image file name (e.g., "IMG_1234.jpg") as alt text. This is useless for both SEO and accessibility. Always write a human-readable description.

Duplicating the Surrounding Text

Alt text should complement the surrounding text, not repeat it. If the caption already describes the image, you can keep alt text brief.

Forgetting to Update Alt Text After Changing Images

If you replace an image, remember to update its alt text to match the new content. Old alt text can be misleading.

Examples of Good vs. Bad Alt Text

To illustrate, here are a few examples:

Bad Alt Text

• alt="image"
• alt="photo"
• alt="" (for an informative image)
• alt="12345.jpg"

Good Alt Text

• alt="woman in red dress walking down a city street at sunset"
• alt="chocolate chip cookies cooling on a wire rack"
• alt="diagram showing the water cycle with evaporation, condensation, and precipitation"

How to Fix Missing Alt Text on Your Website

Once you've identified images without alt text, you can fix them in several ways:

Directly in HTML

Edit the source code of your page and add the alt attribute to each <img> tag. For example:

<img src="dog.jpg" alt="golden retriever puppy playing with a red ball">

Using a CMS

If you use WordPress, Wix, or another CMS, you can usually add alt text in the media library or when inserting an image into a post. Look for the "Alternative Text" field in the image settings.

Bulk Editing with Plugins

For WordPress users, plugins like "SEO Friendly Images" can automatically add alt text based on the image file name or other rules. However, it's better to manually write descriptive alt text for important images.

Tools to Complement Your Alt Text Audit

While our Alt Text Checker is a great starting point, you might also want to use other tools to improve your overall image SEO:

Google Search Console

It can show you which pages have images that appear in search results and help you identify opportunities for optimization.

PageSpeed Insights

This tool checks your page's performance, including image loading. While it doesn't check alt text, it can help you optimize image sizes for faster loading.

Accessibility Audit Tools

Tools like WAVE or axe can check for various accessibility issues, including missing alt text, and provide a comprehensive report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal length for alt text?

Aim for under 125 characters, as screen readers may cut off longer text. Be concise but descriptive.

Can I use the same alt text for multiple images?

It's best to make each alt text unique to the image it describes. Duplicate alt text can confuse screen readers and search engines.

Does alt text affect page speed?

No, alt text is just text and doesn't affect page speed. However, image file size does, so optimize your images separately.

Is alt text necessary for all images?

Yes, all images should have an alt attribute, but it can be empty for decorative images. Informative images must have descriptive alt text.

How often should I check my images for alt text?

It's a good practice to check whenever you add new content or update existing pages. Regular audits, such as monthly, can help maintain quality.

Conclusion

Checking if images have alt text is a simple yet powerful way to improve your website's SEO and accessibility. By using our Alt Text Checker, you can quickly identify images that need attention and take steps to fix them. Remember to write descriptive, concise alt text that benefits both users and search engines. Start auditing your site today and see the difference it makes in your search rankings and user experience.

Ready to ensure your images are fully optimized? Try the Alt Text Checker now and get a free report for any page on your website.