Accessibility and Alternative Text

Penn State University Press is committed to making its publications accessible to the widest audience possible. The inclusion of alternative text (or “alt text”) will allow those using assistive technology to access the images and other graphic elements in the digital formats of our books.

What is alt text?

Alt text stands for “alternative text.” It is a written description of an image, table, graph, or map that provides additional context and information for readers using assistive technology.

Drafting alt text

Alt text describes the key content of an image for readers. When writing alt text, consider:

– Is sufficient information about the image included in the caption or the text? If so, alt text may be unnecessary; it should not duplicate information found elsewhere in the text.

– What vital information does the image provide readers? Alt text should replicate the image’s function on the page as closely as possible.

– Are there physical features of the image, such as color, placement, and action, that contribute to readers’ understanding of it? If so, these features should be included in the alt text.

– Is the image included only for decorative purposes? If so, consider omitting it; if the image is retained, it should be labeled as “decorative” in the alt text.

Alt text will be read aloud by assistive technology and therefore should be concise and avoid specialized terminology. Avoid phrases such as “painting of…” or “photograph of…” unless the medium is crucial for the reader’s understanding. Limit alt text to a maximum of 250 characters (not including spaces). If more extensive alt text is needed, provide it in the extended description.

Extended description

Occasionally, complex images will require more extensive descriptions. A concise alt text description should still be provided, but the additional information necessary for readers can appear in an extended description. Some examples of images that might require an extended description include:

– Images that contain visible text. All visible English text must be transcribed in the extended description unless it is already transcribed in full in the surrounding text or caption.

– Complex maps or blueprints.

– Detailed graphs or tables. See examples at www.w3.org.