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Re: A complex image used as a link: I need to provide alt attribute value as link and longer description of the image.

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From: Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design
Date: Oct 2, 2024 3:07AM

Thanks Mark,

Re: link to the image and a fuller description
At the moment they are linking directly to the image, i.e., not to a page with a larger image and some text. But I like your suggestion - so I will suggest that to them - as a possible solution.

Your idea has also made me think that they could add the longer description to the original page - and use the alt attribute to give a short description and say something like ’Blah, blah blah: see the full text description below’ or something like that. Given that - as you say, the access technology does not seem optimised to make use of aria-describedby.

Thanks,
Jim

> On 2 Oct 2024, at 09:15, Mark Magennis < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> I would suggest just using the alt attribute for the image link because descriptions provided using aria-describedby are unreliable. For instance, the last time I checked neither JAWS nor NVDA would read the description of an image link when you arrow to it, only when you tab to it.
>
> The alt text should give at least some information about the image as well as conveying the purpose of the link. So something like "system architecture diagram, click for larger image and full description". It's not usually necessary to use words like "click" in link text but in this case I think it may make it clearer as it's an instruction appended to the description. The larger image could contain the full description in an alt attribute but it may be better to use accompanying text because the alt attribute isn't well suited to long or complex descriptions. Users can't use their screen reader's character and word reading commands to slowly go though an alt attribute spelling out words or re-reading parts they didn't understand.
>
> Mark
> > From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > on behalf of Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> Sent: Tuesday 1 October 2024 15:50
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> Subject: [EXTERNAL] [WebAIM] A complex image used as a link: I need to provide alt attribute value as link and longer description of the image.
>
> Hi All,
>
> Does this sound like the best solution for a complex image that is being used as a link - to a large version of the image. I.e., is this the best way to provide both a link that makes sense when read out of context and a longer text description of the image.
>
> This is what I was thinking as a solution:
>
> 1. Add an appropriate alt attribute to the image (to acts as link text). The alt attribute will provide a short link text value to describe the target image.
>
> 2. Add the longer text description via aria-describedby. The image is complex and requires a longer alternative text description. The description should to be on the same page.
>
> According to the WC3 documentation, some screen readers read out the value of the aria-describedby value directly after the alt attribute - and some require the use to take an additional action to read out the value of aria-describedby. For reference see https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/ARIA15.html.
>
> Do you think that is the best solution?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
>
>
> [cid: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
>
>
> Multi-award-winning WCAG 2.2 AA Accessibility Auditing and Accessibility Consultant
>
> Web: https://jimbyrne.co.uk<https://jimbyrne.co.uk/>
>
> Jim Byrne is one of the UK’s most experienced practitioners in the area of accessible digital design.
>
> Jim provided feedback during the development of WCAG 2 (the de facto accessibility guidelines used by governments across the world). He is the author of a number of technical books, training courses and accessibility guides. Jim was a winner of the equal access category of the Global Bangemann Challenge.
>
> > > > > <PastedGraphic-3.png>> > > 


Multi-award-winning WCAG 2.2 AA Accessibility Auditing and Accessibility Consultant

Web: https://jimbyrne.co.uk

Jim Byrne is one of the UK’s most experienced practitioners in the area of accessible digital design.

Jim provided feedback during the development of WCAG 2 (the de facto accessibility guidelines used by governments across the world). He is the author of a number of technical books, training courses and accessibility guides. Jim was a winner of the equal access category of the Global Bangemann Challenge.