Alt Text
The alternative text attribute on an image element that describes the image in words. Screen readers announce it to visually impaired users, and it displays when an image fails to load. Search engines read it to understand image content, making it essential for both accessibility and image search visibility.
Why It Matters
Alt text is the primary way search engines interpret images, so it drives image search traffic and reinforces a page's topical relevance. It is also a legal accessibility requirement under standards like WCAG.
Common Mistake
Keyword-stuffing alt text, describing decorative images that should have empty alt attributes, or omitting it entirely. Writing 'image of logo' adds no value; describe function and content instead.