Learning how to check alt text on website images is essential for accessibility and SEO. Alt text (alternative text) describes images for screen readers and search engines, helping visually impaired users and improving your site's ranking potential. In this guide, we'll explore why alt text matters, how to audit it, and the best tools—including our Alt Text Checker—to simplify the process.

Why Alt Text Matters

Alt text serves two primary purposes: accessibility and SEO. Screen readers rely on alt text to convey image content to users with visual impairments. Search engines use alt text to understand images, which can contribute to image search rankings and overall page relevance. Missing or poor alt text can harm user experience and your site's performance.

Common Alt Text Issues

Before diving into how to check alt text, it's helpful to know what problems to look for:

• Missing alt attributes: Images without any alt text.
• Empty alt attributes: Alt="" is acceptable for decorative images, but problematic for informative ones.
• Generic or vague text: Like "image1.jpg" or "photo".
• Keyword stuffing: Overloading alt text with keywords, which hurts usability.
• Duplicated alt text: Multiple images sharing the same description.

Manual Methods to Check Alt Text

You can manually inspect alt text using browser developer tools or by viewing the page source. Here's how:

Using Browser Developer Tools

1. Right-click on an image and select "Inspect" (or "Inspect Element").
2. The HTML code will highlight the <img> tag.
3. Look for the alt attribute; if it's missing, that's a problem.

Viewing Page Source

1. Right-click on the page and select "View Page Source" (or press Ctrl+U).
2. Search for <img to find all image tags.
3. Check each for the presence and quality of alt text.

Manual methods are fine for small pages, but they become impractical for large websites. That's where automated tools come in.

Automated Tools for Checking Alt Text

Several tools can scan your entire site and report missing or problematic alt text. Here are some popular options:

• Google Lighthouse: An open-source tool that audits accessibility, including alt text.
• WAVE: A web accessibility evaluation tool that highlights alt text issues.
• Sitebulb: A desktop crawler that provides detailed image alt text reports.
• Our Alt Text Checker: A free, user-friendly tool designed specifically for this task.

Introducing the Alt Text Checker

Our Alt Text Checker is a free tool that helps you quickly audit alt text on any webpage. Simply enter the URL, and the tool scans all images, listing those with missing, empty, or potentially problematic alt text. It's fast, accurate, and requires no technical expertise.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use the Alt Text Checker

1. Go to the tool: Visit Alt Text Checker.
2. Enter the URL: Paste the full URL of the page you want to check.
3. Click "Check": The tool will fetch the page and analyze all images.
4. Review the results: You'll see a list of images with their alt text status (missing, empty, or present).
5. Fix the issues: Use the list to update your images with proper alt text.

Interpreting the Results

The tool categorizes images into three groups:

• Missing alt text: The alt attribute is absent.
• Empty alt text: The attribute exists but is empty (alt="").
• Has alt text: The attribute contains text.

For missing and empty, you'll need to add descriptive text unless the image is purely decorative. For images with alt text, review the text for quality and relevance.

Best Practices for Writing Alt Text

Once you've identified issues, it's crucial to write effective alt text. Follow these guidelines:

• Be descriptive: Describe the image content clearly and concisely.
• Keep it short: Aim for under 125 characters.
• Use keywords naturally: Include relevant keywords if they fit naturally, but don't force them.
• Don't start with "image of" or "picture of": Screen readers already announce it's an image.
• Use empty alt for decorative images: If an image adds no information, use alt="" to hide it from screen readers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring alt text: Skipping it altogether is the biggest mistake.
• Using file names: Alt text like "IMG_1234.jpg" is useless.
• Writing long paragraphs: Keep it brief.
• Repeating the same text: Each image should have unique alt text.
• Forgetting about buttons: Images used as buttons need alt text that describes the action.

How Often Should You Check Alt Text?

It's a good practice to check alt text whenever you add new content or perform a site redesign. For ongoing maintenance, run a check monthly or quarterly. Regular audits ensure your site remains accessible and SEO-friendly.

Integrating Alt Text Checks into Your Workflow

To make alt text checking a habit, consider these tips:

• Add it to your QA process: Before publishing a page, run the Alt Text Checker.
• Schedule monthly audits: Use a calendar reminder to check key pages.
• Train your team: Share best practices with content creators and developers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is alt text?

Alt text is a short description of an image that appears if the image fails to load and is read aloud by screen readers.

Why is alt text important for SEO?

Search engines use alt text to understand image content, which can help your images rank in search results and improve page relevance.

Can I check alt text for free?

Yes, many tools offer free checks, including our Alt Text Checker. You can check any webpage without cost.

How do I fix missing alt text?

Edit the image's HTML to add an alt attribute with a descriptive text. If you use a CMS, you can often add alt text through the media library.

What if an image is decorative?

Use empty alt text (alt="") to indicate that the image is decorative and should be ignored by screen readers.

Conclusion

Checking alt text on your website is a vital task for accessibility and SEO. By using manual methods or automated tools like our Alt Text Checker, you can easily identify and fix issues. Start auditing your site today to improve user experience and search visibility. Try the tool now and see how many images need attention!