Web Development
Web Developer Guidelines
Visual Design Recommendations

Checkpoint 5.11 - Core

Images that are links have an alt attribute that describes the target of the link

WCAG 1.0 Priority 1

WCAG Guideline 1. Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content.

When an image is made a link it is more important to describe the target page of that link than it is to describe the actual image. Screen readers will identify the image as a link so there is no need to include the words "link", "links to X page", "goes to" or "click here, etc.

Requirement

For images used as links, provide alt attributes which describe the target of that link.

Example

Consider the following real-life examples of alt attributes for images used as links. Please note the first image has correct text for its alt attribute while correct text has been suggested for the remaining three images with incorrect text for their alt attributes.

Example of an alt attribute for an image used as a link Correct alt attribute text
Screen shot of the TV guide website with a photo of a TV presenter on it with the alt text reading 'Agony Aunts with Clive Robertson' “Agony Aunts with Clive Robertson”
Picture of a small airplaine with the alt text reading 'Link to Victorian Education Channel' “Victorian Education Channel new homepage”
Picture frame with the alt text reading 'Click Here for Picture Search' “Picture search”
Kahooz Logo with words reading '2006 competition - celebrating Kahootz in Victorian schools' with alt text reading Kahooz “Kahootz 2006 competition - celebrating Kahootz in Victorian schools”

Checking Tool

  • Internet Explorer - AIS Toolbar: Doc Info > List links

Information Source

The original source of this information is located on the W3C web site  (www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-TECHS/#tech-text-equivalent)

 

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