Alt attribute
The Alt attribute is a way for HTML documents to specify text as an alternative for graphics. The use of Alt attributes (also called "Alt tags") is mandatory according to W3 standards, although many web developers forget them.
Alternative text is especially useful in the following situations:
- People with low bandwidth Internet connections, who may opt not to load graphics.
- People using Smart phones with browsers, such as the Blackberry
- People with disabilities who use assistive software or screen readers
- Search engines attempting to understand the content of a web page. Search engines can only interpret the meaning of graphics by analysing the Alt attribute.