Key highlights
- Learn the importance of image alt text and how it impacts both SEO and website accessibility.
- Image alt text helps users with visual impairments by providing screen readers with descriptions.
- Proper image alt attributes and optimized image file names boost search engine rankings and enhance content visibility.
- Discover alt tag best practices and tips for writing descriptive alt text to improve your website’s overall performance.
- Learn how Bluehost makes managing alt text easier for WordPress users.
If you’re looking to enhance your website’s accessibility and SEO, understanding alt text is essential. Alt text or alternative text is a short description added to an image’s HTML image alt attribute. Alt text allows screen readers to describe image content to visually impaired users. Additionally, providing accessibility for alt descriptions helps ensure all users can access your content, even if they cannot see the image. It also plays a significant role in SEO by providing search engines with the context they need to rank images properly.
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about alt text from how it improves accessibility to the SEO benefits it offers. Plus, we’ll share some alt tag best practices for writing effective alt text.
What is alt text?
Alt text is a textual description of an image added within the alt attribute of an image tag in HTML. It provides screen readers with the necessary context for visually impaired users to understand the content of an image.
Example:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of the image"> Let’s explore how alt text enhances accessibility and improves user experience. How does alt text improve website accessibility?
How does alt text improve website accessibility?
Alt text plays a crucial role in making your website accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Alt text SEO ensures all users regardless of their ability, can engage with your content by providing a text alternative for images.
Here are the keyways alt text improves website accessibility:
1. Making content accessible to all
Alt text makes sure that visually impaired users can still access the content on your website. For example, if you have an image of a sunset over the ocean, the alt text could say, “A beautiful sunset with orange and pink colors reflecting on the ocean.” This helps users who cannot see the image understand what it shows. Along with that, if the image fails to load properly the alt text can still deliver the text content.
2. Supporting screen readers
Screen readers are tools used by people with visual impairments. They read aloud the alt text associated with images. For instance, if there’s an image of a laptop on your website, the screen reader would read, “A person working on a laptop at a desk,” helping the user understand the context of the image. For complex images like infographics or charts, it provides detailed alt text or a long description for screen readers.
3. Enhancing web navigation for people with disabilities
Alt text helps users with disabilities navigate your website more easily. For example, if there is a button on the page, the alt text can describe its function. If the button says “Submit,” the alt text might say, “Click to submit your form.” This makes it clear to users what the button does. By using descriptive alt text, including accessibility alt descriptions, you ensure that all users can fully access your content.
4. Ensuring compliance with accessibility standards
Using proper alt text ensures your website follows web accessibility standards, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). For example, if your site has a logo, the alt text might say, “Company logo,” helping the site meet these accessibility guidelines and be usable by screen readers.
Now that we’ve covered how alt text improves accessibility, let’s look at how it can also enhance your site’s search engine performance.
How alt text helps improve your SEO performance?
Alt text isn’t just good for accessibility; it’s also a smart SEO move. When you use optimized alt text, search engines can better understand and rank your images. This improves your website’s visibility in both regular and image search results.
Here’s how image alt attributes help boost your SEO:
1. Improved image indexing
Since search engines can’t “see” images, they rely on alt text to understand the image content. Clear and descriptive alt text helps search engines index images accurately, making them easier to discover.
2. Increased visibility in Google image search results
Descriptive alt text enhances your chances of appearing in Google Image Search results. This drives organic traffic from users browsing Google Images and can bring more visitors to your site.
3. Enhanced semantic relevance of web pages
Well-written alt text reinforces the connection between your images and the surrounding content. This helps search engines better understand the context of your page, boosting overall SEO and rankings.
4. Higher chances of driving organic traffic
Alt text improves how search engines interpret your content, which can lead to higher rankings in both traditional and image search results. This means more organic traffic to your website.
5. Better user engagement and lower bounce rates
Relevant images with descriptive alt text improve user experience by helping users find exactly what they are looking for. This encourages them to stay longer and explore your site, reducing bounce rates, an important ranking factor for search engines.
Also read: SEO Fundamentals: Beginners Guide
Adding the right image description helps your visuals work harder for your SEO while also enhancing the user experience. Now that we know how alt text boosts SEO, let’s dive deeper into the specific benefits of using proper image alt attributes on your website.
What are the SEO benefits of proper image alt attributes?
Using proper image alt attributes brings several important SEO benefits. These advantages help your website rank better, attract more visitors and provide a richer user experience.
1. Improved image indexing by search engines
Search engines rely on alt text to understand the content of your images. Proper descriptions help search engines index your images correctly, making it easier for your visuals to appear in relevant search results.
2. Increased visibility in Google Image Search results
When your images have clear and descriptive alt text, they have a higher chance of showing up in Google Image Search. This can drive additional organic traffic to your site from users specifically searching for images related to your content.
3. Enhanced semantic relevance of web pages
Alt text adds context to your images, strengthening the connection between your visual content and the surrounding page. This improves the semantic relevance of your pages, helping search engines understand your content more deeply.
4. Higher chances of driving organic traffic
By improving indexing and relevance, well-written alt text increases your website’s visibility in search engines. This means more users can discover your content, leading to higher organic traffic.
5. Better user engagement and lower bounce rates
When users find your site through images that are relevant and well-described, they’re more likely to stay and explore. This improves user engagement and reduces bounce rates, both of which positively influence SEO rankings.
Also read: How to Make an SEO-Friendly Website: Boost Rankings in 2025
Now that you understand the key SEO benefits of proper alt attributes, let’s clear up the difference between alt tag and alt text.
What is the difference between alt tag vs. alt text?
Many people often confuse the terms alt tag and alt text, but they refer to different things. Understanding the distinction is important when optimizing your website for both accessibility and SEO. Here is the comparison table:
| Aspect | Alt tag | Alt text |
| What it is | Incorrect term; no actual HTML tag | The descriptive text inside the alt attribute |
| HTML element | Part of the <img> tag as the alt attribute | Text value assigned to the alt attribute |
| Purpose | Often used to refer to the alt attribute | Provides description for screen readers and search engines |
| Correct term | alt attribute | alt text (alternative text) |
| Example (Bad) | NA | “image1” or “photo” – vague and unhelpful |
| Example (Good) | NA | “Golden retriever puppy playing in the grass” – descriptive and helpful |
In simple terms, the alt tag is a mistaken term often used for the alt attribute or the alt text itself. The alt attribute is the HTML part of the image tag and the alt text is the actual description you write inside it. When optimizing images, focus on writing clear, descriptive alt text within the alt attribute to improve SEO and accessibility.
Now that you understand the difference between alt tag and alt text, let’s explore how to add alt text in WordPress.
How to add alt text in WordPress?
Adding alt text in WordPress is straightforward. Whether you’re uploading new images or editing existing ones, WordPress offers multiple ways to manage alt attributes. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Add alt text on upload
When you upload an image to your WordPress media library, you’ll see a field labeled alt text or Alternative text on the right side. Simply enter a descriptive text that clearly explains the image content. This alt text is automatically saved with the image.
2. Edit alt text in Media Library
To update alt text for existing images, go to your WordPress dashboard, then navigate to Media > Library. Click on the image you want to edit and in the attachment details panel, update the alt text field. Don’t forget to save your changes
3. Use block editor for alt text
If you’re using the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), select the image block in your post or page. On the right sidebar, you’ll find the alt text field under Image settings. Add or edit the alt text there and your changes will be saved when you update the post.
4. Bulk alt text with plugins
Managing alt text for many images can be time-consuming. Several WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO, SEO Optimized Images or Auto Image Attributes from Filename with Bulk Updater can help you bulk add or optimize alt text across your entire media library.
5. Alt text writing tips
When writing alt text, always describe what the image actually shows. Keep your descriptions concise, ideally under 125 characters. Avoid keyword stuffing and focus on clarity and helpfulness. Make sure the alt text is relevant to the surrounding content for better context. For decorative images that don’t add meaningful information, use an empty alt attribute (alt=””) so screen readers can skip them.
Now that you know how to add and write effective alt text in WordPress, let’s see the best practices for alt text.
Platform-specific alt text best practices
Alt text principles clarity, conciseness, and relevance stay consistent, but how you apply them varies by platform. Whether it’s WordPress, social media, emails or eCommerce, each platform has unique needs. Tailoring your alt text improves both accessibility and SEO across the board.
Let’s look at platform-specific best practices:
1. WordPress
Use plugins like Yoast SEO and Auto Image Attributes to automate and validate your alt text entries. These tools help you ensure every image is optimized without needing to manually update each one perfect for managing large media libraries.
2. Social media
When posting on platforms like Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn, look for built-in “alt text” or “accessibility” options. Use short, descriptive captions that communicate the image’s context clearly, especially when sharing content that’s heavily visual or informative.
3. Emails
Since many email clients block images by default, including alt text is crucial. It ensures your message is still conveyed even if the image doesn’t load. For example:
<img src="promo.jpg" alt="20% off sitewide – Shop now!"> This provides an important promotional context even if visuals are missing.
4. eCommerce platforms
In online stores, alt text isn’t just about accessibility, it’s about conversion. Describe product images in detail to support both SEO and shopping accessibility.
By following these tailored tips, you’ll ensure your images are optimized no matter where they appear, enhancing both accessibility and SEO site wide.
Now, let’s look at how Bluehost simplifies alt text management for WordPress users.
Also read: Top 10 Black Hat SEO Techniques (2025): What to Avoid & Why
Why does Bluehost make managing alt text easier?
We at Bluehost understand that managing alt text efficiently is key to both SEO and accessibility. That’s why we provide you with powerful tools and services designed to simplify this process whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned WordPress user.
Step 1: Sign up for Bluehost WordPress hosting
Our WordPress hosting offers a fast, secure and reliable platform tailored specifically for WordPress websites. When you sign up, you get:
- Free domain registration to kickstart your site.
- Free SSL certificates for secure browsing and SEO benefits.
- Free site migration to transfer your existing site hassle-free.
This optimized hosting environment ensures your images load quickly and alt text works effectively to boost SEO. With our easy-to-use tools and seamless WordPress integration, managing your image descriptions becomes a simple part of your website workflow.
Optimize your images for SEO and accessibility with free domain, SSL, Yoast SEO and easy alt text management with Bluehost WordPress hosting.
Step 2: Access WordPress through the Bluehost dashboard
The Bluehost Control Panel provides a user-friendly dashboard where you can manage all aspects of your WordPress site in one place. From here, you can:
- Easily access your WordPress admin area.
- Upload images and add alt text without switching platforms.
- Monitor site health and performance with a few clicks.
Step 3: Install Bluehost SEO plugins for easier image management
We offer SEO-focused plugins that help you manage your images and alt text effortlessly. One of the most popular tools is Yoast SEO, which guides you through optimizing your images by suggesting clear and effective alt text.
With Yoast SEO, you can:
- Add and edit alt text easily as part of your overall SEO strategy.
- Optimize images for faster loading times, improving site performance.
- Follow guided tips to enhance your entire site’s SEO, including content and metadata.
Using Bluehost’s integration with plugins like Yoast SEO makes managing image SEO simple, even if you’re new to website optimization.
Step 4: Use Bluehost tools for effortless content and alt text editing
With WonderSuite, you get powerful tools that let you:
- Drag and drop to build pages with ease.
- Customize themes to suit your brand.
- Smooth integration with eCommerce essentials.
- Add descriptive alt text directly within the content blocks.
These tools streamline content creation while ensuring your images are fully optimized.
Step 5: Contact Bluehost support anytime for assistance
Our 24/7 customer support is always ready to assist you with:
- Alt text best practices and troubleshooting.
- Guidance on using Bluehost tools and plugins.
- General website and hosting support.
You can reach us via chat, phone or email anytime you need help.
Step 6: Benefit from fast, secure hosting for optimal performance
Our hosting services include:
- Fast page load speeds, critical for user experience and SEO.
- Free SSL certificates to secure your site and boost rankings.
- Reliable uptime so your site and images are always available.
- Built-in security features that protect your content.
This ensures your images and alt text contribute positively to your SEO efforts and visitor satisfaction.
Also read: 10 Benefits of WordPress Hosting in 2025 for Speed & Security
Final thoughts
Alt text might seem simple, but it plays a crucial role in enhancing both your website’s accessibility and its search engine rankings. Adding clear alt text makes your site accessible and helps search engines rank your content better.
Managing alt text is effortless with Bluehost WordPress hosting and powerful tools that streamline the process.
Get started with Bluehost today to boost your SEO and create an accessible website for everyone.
FAQs
Alt text is the descriptive alternative text added inside the alt attribute of an HTML image tag. It provides a text alternative for images, helping screen reader users understand the image content. Alt text also aids search engines in interpreting what the image conveys, improving your site’s SEO.
Yes. Properly written image alt text helps search engines index images correctly and enhances your page’s semantic relevance. This boosts your rankings in both regular search results and image search results.
Alt text should be concise, ideally under 125 characters. This length ensures screen readers can easily read the description without overwhelming users.
Every meaningful or informative image should have alt text. For decorative images that don’t add content, it’s okay to use an empty alt attribute (alt=””) so screen readers skip them.
Yes. Using an empty alt attribute tells screen readers to ignore the image, preventing unnecessary interruptions for users who rely on assistive technologies.
