Give Non-text Content a Voice Using Alternative Text

Alt text provides a detailed description of images for adaptive technology users and is necessary any time you use something other than plain text. It is an essential technique that makes digital content accessible, as it provides meaningful descriptions of images.

Alt Text - An Accessibility Requirement

Looking to master alt text to make your content more accessible in your Microsoft applications? For a quick walkthrough, refer to the Microsoft Support video on how to Improve Accessibility with Alt Text.
Here are some tips:

When to use alt text

1. For informative images, provide concise alt text to describe key information.
2. For text-based images, such as logos or banners, alt text should include the same words or text that appear in the image.
3. Images that only enhance visual appeal and do not add meaningful information to your content should be marked as decorative, so that they are ignored by adaptive technologies.

How to write meaningful alt text

1. Keep the text short and simple, using a maximum of 140 characters in English and 170 in French. Use a Word counter to avoid exceeding the limit.
2. Describe colour only if it helps the audience understand the image.
3. Do not start the text with words like "image of" or "picture of".
4. Avoid hyperlinks.

How to write alt text for complex images requiring a long description

For complex images (infographics, charts, tables, maps) and long descriptions, additional steps are necessary to ensure full accessibility:

• Using alt text: Be concise. If more details are required, indicate where users can find the long descriptions (for example, “long description available in speaking notes”).
• Creating long descriptions:
  • Long descriptions should be as detailed as necessary to fully convey the meaning of the image.
  • Here is how to Include long descriptions for complex images.

How to use alt text in a bilingual context

Bilingual alt text is not accessible. Alt text must be unilingual. Even if an image has no text, the alt text used should be in only one language. When using a bilingual image, it is important to duplicate the image and create separate alt text in each language to ensure accessibility and clarity for all users.

Enhance the accessibility of your content today. Use alt text with every image to make your content more inclusive.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please reach out to us through the Request Management Tool or contact us at edsc.ti-it.a11y.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca You can also refer to the Accessible Document section of the IT Accessibility Office website to guide you along the way.

-IT Accessibility Office