- Success Criterion 1.1.1
- Conformance level A
- W3C reference F67
Long Image Description That Skips the Image’s Actual Content
1.1.1 — Non-text Content
Scenario
Setting
A ride-hailing app's trip booking screen
What’s wrong
The long description provided for an image doesn't actually convey the same information as the image itself.
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
Open the linked long description (or expandable detail) and compare it point-by-point to the image: if it leaves out information the image conveys, it fails.
How to fix
Make the long description convey the same information the image conveys.
<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 ride-hailing app's trip booking screen, this barrier is gone for blind and low-vision people using screen readers — they no longer have to work around this.
Who is affected
Blind and low-vision people using screen readers, and anyone who browses with images disabled, when icons or photos carry meaning.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
- Technique Related technique (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Product Photo Added as a CSS Background With No Alt Text
- Chart Alt Text That Never Explains What Each Color Means
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- Alt Text Left as a Filename Instead of a Real Description
- Decorative Image Not Hidden From Screen Reader Users
- Decorative Image Given Alt Text Instead of Being Marked Silent