Success Criterion 1.1.1
Conformance level A

Alt Text That Describes a Completely Different Image

1.1.1 — Non-text Content

Scenario

Setting

A subscription box service's account settings

What’s wrong

alt text that is technically present but wrong: describes a different image (stale after CMS swap), or keyword-stuffed for SEO.

Example

<img src="chart.png">

Why it matters

Blind and low-vision people using screen readers, and anyone who browses with images disabled, when icons or photos carry meaning.

How to test

Compare the alt text word-for-word to the current image content: if it describes something else, it's wrong and fails regardless of length or effort.

How to fix

Rewrite the alt to accurately describe the current image's purpose — no stale or SEO-stuffed text.

<img src="chart.png" alt="Q3 revenue chart showing 12% growth">

The alt attribute gives assistive technology the same information the image conveys visually.

Outcome

On a subscription box service's account settings, this barrier is gone for blind and low-vision people using screen readers — they no longer have to work around this.

Who is affected