Alt Text Checker

Optimize Images for ADA Compliance and Google Search

Missing or poor alternative text is one of the most common Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) failures. It prevents visually impaired users—who rely on screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver—from understanding your content. Furthermore, Google crawlers cannot "see" images; they rely entirely on the alt attribute to index visuals for image search.

This Alt Text Checker provides a rigorous analysis of your image descriptions. It evaluates character count, keyword stuffing risks, redundancy (e.g., "image of"), and contextual relevance. By using this tool, you ensure your media library is fully accessible and optimized to drive organic traffic from Google Images.

How to Write Perfect Alt Text

1. Be Specific: Don't just say "dog." Say "Golden Retriever playing fetch in a park."
2. Avoid Redundancy: Never start with "picture of" or "image of." Screen readers already announce it is an image.
3. Watch the Length: Keep it under 125 characters. Screen readers often cut off verbose descriptions.
4. Keywords, Not Stuffing: Include your primary keyword naturally, but prioritize describing the visual content accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is alt text and why is it important?

Alt text is a written description of an image used by screen readers and search engines. It ensures visually impaired users understand visual content and helps Google index images for relevant search queries.

How long should alt text be?

Aim for 125 characters or less. Screen readers often stop reading after this limit, and search engines prefer concise, relevant descriptions over keyword-stuffed paragraphs.

What makes good alt text?

Good alt text is specific and functional. It describes the content and function of the image without using redundancy like "image of". If the image contains text, transcribe it exactly.

Should decorative images have alt text?

No. Decorative images (borders, spacers) should have an empty alt attribute (alt=""). This tells assistive technology to ignore them, reducing noise for the user.

How does alt text affect SEO?

It acts as anchor text for images. Google uses alt attributes to understand the subject matter of visuals, directly influencing rankings in Google Images and web search results.