01
Step-by-step
- 01
Identify the image function
Decide whether it communicates information, performs an action, identifies something, or is decorative.
- 02
Describe the meaningful information
Write the information a person needs in the current context rather than every visual detail.
- 03
Avoid repetition
Do not repeat adjacent text or begin every value with 'image of'.
- 04
Handle decorative images correctly
Use an empty alt value when the image adds no meaningful information.
- 05
Test the page without the image
Confirm the remaining text and alternative communicate the intended task.
02
Verification
- The implementation matches the visible page and intended audience task.
- The result works on mobile and with keyboard operation where applicable.
- Links, code, schema, and instructions have been checked in production.
- The expected business or user outcome can be measured.
- An owner and review trigger are recorded.
03
Before you change the website
- Define the purpose and expected result of alternative text.
- Capture the current state using semantic structure, keyboard operation, focus order, labels, names, contrast, alternatives, errors, and assistive-technology behaviour.
- Identify the source template, component, plugin, content owner, and release path that controls the output.
- Prepare a test case, approval path, backup or rollback method, and post-release verification plan.
04
Quality-control checks for alternative text
- Repeat automated checks, complete the relevant manual task, and record the browser and assistive-technology context.
- Check representative page types and edge cases instead of confirming only the example used during implementation.
- Confirm the change did not create repairing markup without checking the complete keyboard and screen-reader task.
- Record the implementation date, owner, release reference, evidence, and next review trigger.
Next useful action
Turn alternative text into an accountable record.
A tested implementation of alternative text with deployment notes, rollback context, and retained verification.