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Re: Decorative image or not in a search listing?

for

From: Jeremy Echols
Date: Apr 18, 2018 12:20PM

I agree with Glen unless the images are links. If so, and there's no other link text, they would have to have something in the alt attribute. Though the better fix would be to make the <a> element wrap around both the image and the headline so that the image is once again just decorative.

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of glen walker
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 11:03 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Decorative image or not in a search listing?

I agree with your thought on not including it. If the image does not add anything other than visual candy, it can be helpful to have a null alt so that it doesn't clutter up the images that do have meaning. If I navigate with the G key, or bring up the list of images with Ctrl+Ins+G, I wouldn't want the "eye candy" images in that list (speaking as a personal preference). I know I can bring up a list of links or headings to find the articles. I don't need another way to navigate to them.

These thoughts are only relative to your specific example. There are cases where I recommend having alt text on eye candy because it can be helpful or enjoyable.

Glen

On Wed, Apr 18, 2018 at 11:56 AM, Joe Allen-Black < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
wrote:

> I'm having an internal debate on how to best guide the setup of alt
> text on a listing page. I would love the group's opinions.
>
> The page I am looking at is a listing of news articles. Each article
> has a headline, digest text, and then a lead image from the article.
> The headline and digest give proper information about what the article
> is about.
>
> I'm wondering about the need to include alt text with the image or go
> with an alt=""
>
> My thought to keep alt text is that it is content, so strong alt text
> would give more information to visitor.
>
> My thought for not including it is that the image is decorative in a way.
> It doesn't aid in understanding (even if the alt text was written
> well). In a way, it almost seems like more clutter for a person on a
> screenreader to get image information, then similar information the headline and digest.
>
> I've seen different approaches on different sites. Would love more
> feedback.
>
> Thanks!
> > > archives at http://webaim.org/discussion/archives
> >