Alt text is written text that appears in place of an image on a web page. This happens when an image fails to load, or when someone uses on-screen reading tools.
Many companies are learning the value of search engine optimization (SEO) and creating digital marketing content for their business. Keywords, search engine results page (SERP), and cost-per-click (CPC) are all common vocabulary. However, there is another key element of optimization that many people overlook — image alt text.
Alt Text vs. Alt Attribute vs. Alt Tag
Oftentimes, “alt text,” “alt attribute,” and “alt tag” are used interchangeably. Here is an example of how the code would appear on the page:
<img src="examplepicture.jpg" alt="description of example picture">
The “alt” portion is the attribute of the HTML coding, while the description in quotations is called the alt text. The alt attribute is defined by whatever the text says. An alt tag is a colloquialism people use to refer to the alt attributes and text.
All three terms are used to describe the same idea — it’s the HTML code that describes a picture.
