Alt text is not the same as a photo caption. Captions are typically written to support a photo, and usually depend on users being able to see the photo. But alt text is meant to be the stand-in for the photo. The alt text is what a screen reader user gets in place of the photo. - ThreadSky

a11yawareness.bsky.social • 84 days ago

Alt text is not the same as a photo caption. Captions are typically written to support a photo, and usually depend on users being able to see the photo. But alt text is meant to be the stand-in for the photo. The alt text is what a screen reader user gets in place of the photo.

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aliengeometries.itch.io•84 days ago

With the exception of art, I frame it to people like, imagine you're trying to describe it over the phone to someone you know.

For art, I try to write short prose poems while still being descriptive—the emotional tenor of the piece is part of the visual, too.

mashaw56.bsky.social•84 days ago

I’ve been wondering about alt text and have been meaning to look it up. Thank you for this information.

a11yawareness.bsky.social•84 days ago

In magazines and newspapers, the photo caption is the text that appears underneath or next to the photo. In the context of journalism, the photo caption has been traditionally written to give additional information that isn't apparent just by looking at the photo.

a11yawareness.bsky.social•84 days ago

For example, a photo of a high school field hockey game might have a caption that identifies the score, the winner, and the record for each team. A picture of a line of people waiting to vote might have a caption that includes statistics. This has been common practice for publications for years.

a11yawareness.bsky.social•84 days ago

People who are new to alt text might think it intuitive to duplicate the photo caption text when writing alt text. Here's the thing: If you duplicate the photo caption text in the alt text, users are going to hear the same text twice. This is annoying for one image, let alone multiple images.

smalltimebenny.bsky.social•84 days ago

to clarify: if there is text in an image, such as a meme, we should include that in the alt text, correct?

sunnamiina.bsky.social•84 days ago

Yes

a11yawareness.bsky.social•84 days ago

Alt text and photo captions serve different purposes, so they should not be identical. Alt text is meant to provide the same information and context that a sighted user would get from seeing the image. But that's not how captions are written. Caption text and alt text have different functions.

a11yawareness.bsky.social•84 days ago

When writing alt text, focus on what is actually in the image. Any relevant information that isn't describing the image itself should be in a caption below the image, not in the alt text. This includes photo credits, permissions, and copyright information.

a11yawareness.bsky.social•84 days ago

Here's an example that can help explain. This screenshot comes from The New York Times' "Most Popular Recipes of 2024." The caption text underneath the image described who took the photo and who styled it. That's where that info belongs: in a caption, not alt text.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/dining/the-most-popular-recipes-of-2024.html

lruiz.bsky.social•81 days ago

Thank you!!

exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social•84 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social/post/3lcbok5ggts2j

bethannon.bsky.social•84 days ago

Great thread! One additional nuance: the alt text should reflect the larger CONTEXT in which it appears. For instance, if the content is mostly factual OR inspirational/emotional, the tone of alt text should reflect that. The same image might have different alt text depending on how it’s being used.

iomtosalop.bsky.social•84 days ago

I have been diligent about writing alt text for my photos but I don’t know yet whether I am doing the right thing. Please could you check a few and advise?

tapati.bsky.social•84 days ago

If you couldn’t see the photo, ever, what would you want to know about it as your screen reader informs you that an image exists? Just keep that in mind.

iomtosalop.bsky.social•84 days ago

Excellent, thank you for that

tapati.bsky.social•84 days ago

You’re welcome

maxfills.bsky.social•84 days ago

They’re also used to train AI

handle.invalid•83 days ago

Still more important to make it accessible to low vision and blind users. Besides, AI is going to scrape it anyways and figure it out based on the replies and any similar looking images

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