Alt text (alternative text) is a short written description of an image. It is read aloud by screen readers, shown if the image does not load, and used by search engines to understand what the picture shows. Good alt text is one of the easiest image SEO wins.
Why alt text matters
- Accessibility: people who cannot see the image still get the meaning.
- Google Images: Google uses alt text together with the page content to decide when to show your image.
- Fallback: if the file fails to load, the text appears instead.
How to write good alt text
Describe what is really in the picture
Say who or what is shown, what they are doing and where. "Woman drinking coffee at a cafe window" is better than "coffee".
Keep it short
One clear sentence, usually under 125 characters, is enough. Save longer explanations for the text of the page.
Do not stuff keywords
Repeating "free image free stock free photo" hurts readability and can look like spam. Use your main keyword only if it fits naturally.
Skip "image of" and "picture of"
Screen readers already announce that it is an image.
Examples
- Weak: photo1.jpg
- Weak: woman coffee cafe woman coffee free image
- Good: Smiling woman holding a coffee mug at a cafe window
Do not forget the rest of image SEO
Use a descriptive file name, compress the file, place the image near relevant text and give the page a clear title. On Pixvora every image page has a descriptive title, alt text and related images for exactly this reason.