WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: FW: alt text size

for

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Aug 21, 2006 1:30PM


John Foliot wrote:

> So, rather than looking a specific numbers of either characters or words,
> perhaps a completely different angle of attack should be considered. Alt
> text should be kept under approximately 10 words, AND USED TO DESCRIBE WHAT
> THE IMAGE IS, rather than what it means.

I'd add "and/or what its function is, if it is used as something like a
button or link".

> Related to this topic - I have taken to using a particular construct when
> declaring my alt texts: alt="[Photo - Catherine Roy]".
>
> 1) By using the square brackets, it keeps the alt text separated in text
> display browsers (it's a visual thing),

To be hardline, it should be the browser's responsibility to show what
is an image alt and what is "normal" text.

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke
___________
re