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Best Practices for LibGuides at UCLA

Suggestions and guidelines for using LibGuides to best effect in the UCLA Library.

Addendum to Image Alt Text

by Unknown User on 2017-03-07T12:09:59-08:00 | 0 Comments

It's important to note that while every image should have an alt attribute, that attribute can, and often should, be blank.

alt=""

If you add an image using the Libguides rich text editor, a blank alt tag is automatically added!

Keep in mind that the alt text will be read by a screen reader. But if your image has a descriptive caption, is accompanied by text that conveys the same information, or is purely decorative, then don't put alt text. Imagine how annoying it would be to read a guide where every image caption is repeated, where every other paragraph begins with "decorative flourish," or where you have to listen to a detailed description of a pretty (but pointless) picture of Norway before getting to the actual Norwegian database links you need. The alt tag exists to impart necessary information to people who can't see the picture. If the picture conveys no necessary information, leave it blank!


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