WebsiteDesignOutsource.com research
Image Alt Text Handoffs for Outsourced Websites
A practical evidence model for deciding image alternatives and documenting responsibility in outsourced website design.
Alt text is a content decision attached to an image's purpose. A design handoff should tell the content owner whether an image is informative, decorative, functional, or a link, then preserve that decision in the rendered HTML.
Research basis
WCAG text-alternative criteria and HTML image semantics distinguish meaningful alternatives from decorative images. WAI guidance also warns against repeating nearby text or describing irrelevant visual detail.
Handoff record
For each asset, record its role, proposed alternative, nearby caption or link text, and the final `alt` behavior. Review hero images, icons, diagrams, charts, and linked thumbnails as separate cases because their user task differs.
Sources
1. W3C WCAG 2.2 Accessibility standard.
2. W3C non-text content Text-alternative requirement.
3. W3C images tutorial Image guidance.
4. WHATWG img element HTML semantics.
5. MDN img Image behavior.
6. W3C decorative images Decorative cases.
7. W3C functional images Functional cases.
8. W3C complex images Complex-image guidance.
9. W3C images of text Text-in-image guidance.
10. W3C captions and descriptions Media context.
Further reading
Related Research
Frequently asked questions
Should decorative images have descriptive alt text?
Usually not. A decorative image should be implemented so assistive technology can skip it, while nearby meaningful content remains available.
Is the designer always responsible for alt text?
No. Responsibility should be assigned in the handoff, and the content owner should approve meaning-sensitive descriptions.
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