Image text alternatives for law firm websites

Informative images: describe the useful point

When a photo or illustration adds information, write a brief description that carries that information in this context. For example, if a practice-area page uses a photo to show someone reviewing a lease, a useful alternative might be “Person reviewing a residential lease.” Include the detail that matters to the page; a visual inventory of every object is rarely helpful.

If an image contains words that are not repeated elsewhere and those words matter, include the words in its alternative. When possible, keep important text as real page text instead of putting it only in an image.

Decorative or repeated images: use an empty alternative

If an image is only decoration and adds no information needed to understand the page, use an empty alternative: alt="". This tells assistive technology to skip the image; leaving the attribute out is not the same thing.

An image can also be redundant when nearby text already communicates the same thing. For example, if a text link names a destination and an icon beside it adds no further information, the icon can have an empty alternative so its description is not repeated. Make sure the link or button still has a clear name.

Functional images: name the action or destination

When an image is the content of a link or button, its alternative should explain what that control does or where it goes. Describe “Search case resources” when that is the action; “magnifying glass” describes the picture but not the purpose. If visible text already gives the control a clear name, avoid repeating that name for a decorative icon.

Complex images: make the important details available as text

A chart, process diagram, or detailed map can contain more information than a short alternative can carry. Identify what the image is about, then provide its useful data, relationships, or steps nearby in ordinary text or a table. A short label alone does not replace those details.

Common problems to look for

• A filename such as IMG_0382.jpg or a label like “image” that does not tell anyone what matters.
• Repeating a full nearby heading or caption when it already communicates the same information.
• Leaving alt off an image, or using an empty value for an image that carries information.
• Describing how an icon looks instead of the action of its link or button.
• Using a short label for a chart or diagram without making its useful details available elsewhere on the page.

A practical review checklist

1. Review each image in the context of its page, not in isolation.
2. Say the useful information or action plainly; skip filenames and generic labels.
3. Check nearby text so an alternative does not repeat information unnecessarily.
4. For linked images and icons, verify the link or button purpose is clear.
5. For charts and diagrams, make their useful information available as text or a table.
6. Use an empty alternative only when the image is decorative or its content is redundant.

What a Docketbriar scan can tell you

The image check can flag an <img> element that has no alt attribute. It cannot judge whether the words are meaningful for that image, or whether an empty alternative is the right choice. An attribute being present does not show that the image is described well. Review the image and its purpose yourself or with your web provider. A scan is a bounded first pass, not a determination of ADA or WCAG compliance.