Alt text
Description
Alt text ensures that digital content is inclusive and compliant with web accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). It provides essential context for users with visual impairments, describing what an image represents and how it relates to the surrounding content. Without alt text, a screen reader might simply announce "image123.jpg," leaving the user missing critical information.
In localization workflows, alt text must be translated and culturally adapted with the same care as other visible content. This includes respecting tone, relevance and length constraints – since overly long or literal translations can hinder usability. A pun or cultural reference in an image might need a completely different description in another language to convey the same meaning.
Alt text is also valuable for SEO, as it helps search engines understand visual content and improve page discoverability. When handled correctly, it bridges accessibility, usability and performance – ensuring that all audiences can understand and engage with visual material.
Example use cases
- Website accessibility: Ensuring all product images, banners and icons have descriptive text for screen reader users.
- Document remediation: Adding alt text to charts and diagrams in PDFs to make reports accessible.
- eLearning: Describing visual scenarios or instructional graphics in training modules.
- Social media: Making posts accessible by adding descriptions to uploaded photos and GIFs.
- SEO optimization: Improving image search ranking by including relevant keywords in descriptions.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
RWS applies accessibility best practices across eLearning, multimedia and digital content localization, combining human linguistic precision with intelligent automation to maintain inclusivity and accuracy across languages.
We treat alt text as a first-class citizen in the translation process. Our linguists are trained not just to translate words, but to convey the function and intent of the image in the target language. By integrating accessibility checks into our standard localization workflows, we ensure that your global digital presence is open to everyone, everywhere.