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While both the
altattribute and thefigcaptionelement provide a way to describe images, the way we write for them is different.altdescriptions should be functional;figcaptiondescriptions should be editorial or illustrative.
Add punctuation to your alt text
To add a description to an image, author a string inside of an alt attribute declared on an img element. Assistive technology will recognize the presence of the alt attribute and read the string as it moves through the page or view.
The unreasonable effectiveness of simple HTML
Are you developing public services? Or a system that people might access when they’re in desperate need of help? Plain HTML works. A small bit of simple CSS will make look decent. JavaScript is probably unnecessary – but can be used to progressively enhance stuff. Add alt text to images so people paying per MB can understand what the images are for (and, you know, accessibility).
Text descriptions and emotion rich images
A good alt text can conjure up wonderfully stimulating mental images. A friendly smile is the same in print, photo or wax crayon. Whether you listen to an image or see it, the emotional response is the key factor, so why should we recommend that these emotion rich images should be given a null alt text and hidden from screen reader users?
Eric Bailey
Terence Eden
Léonie Watson