Classify the image
Informative, functional, decorative and complex images each need a different alt text approach — pick the closest match.
Alt Text Writing Helper
Answer a few quick questions about an image and get a suggested alt attribute, plus a checklist to double-check it.
Suggested alt attribute
How it works
Describe it plainly
Describe what the image shows or does, the way you'd explain it to someone on the phone who can't see it.
Copy and check
Use the suggested alt text as a starting point, and run through the checklist before you ship it.
FAQ
What should decorative images use for alt text?
Purely decorative images that add no information should use an empty alt attribute (alt="") so screen readers skip over them, rather than describing visuals that carry no meaning.
How long should alt text be?
Most guidance suggests keeping alt text under about 125 characters — long enough to convey the image's purpose, short enough that a screen reader doesn't read a paragraph. Longer descriptions can go in surrounding text or a caption instead.
Should alt text include "image of" or "picture of"?
No. Screen readers already announce that an element is an image, so phrases like "image of" or "picture of" are redundant. Describe the content or function directly instead.