Environment
Digital Asset Collaborative at U-M (DAC)
Issue
Users need to know how to properly add and use alternative text for images in the Digital Asset Collaborative at U-M (DAC), to ensure accessibility and improve search functionality.
Resolution
When uploading or updating image assets in the DAC, add alternative text to the "Suggested Alt Text" metadata field.
When using images from the DAC, review the "Suggested Alt Text" and use or adjust it for your use case.
How to Add Alt Text
Follow these steps:
- Upload the image to the DAC system.
- After the upload is complete, navigate to the Metadata screen for the uploaded image.
- Locate the Alt Text field and enter a descriptive text that accurately describes the image.
- Save the changes to ensure the alternative text is associated with the image.
Why to Add and Use Alt Text
Alternative text is crucial for:
- Assistive technology including screen readers, used by people who are blind, have low vision, are neurodivergent
- Search engine optimization, enhancing the DAC search engine's ability to return relevant results when searching for images.
What Makes Good Alt Text
Good alt text is accurate, short, contextual, and not repetitive. Learn more about alt text.
- Accurate: Correctly describes the content or purpose of the image
- Short: Not longer than it needs to be, usually only a few words to a few sentences, limited to 150 characters if possible
- Contextual: Communicates the purpose of the image in context
- Not repetitive: Does not begin with “image of,” because assistive technology already identifies the image as an image
Note: Alt text is Suggested Alt Text in DAC, because good alt text is contextual, and may change depending on how and where the image is used. The person who uses the image may use the suggested alt text, or adjust it as needed.
How to Use Alt Text
When you choose an image from the DAC to embed into a website, document, or other digital content, the alternative text from the DAC does not automatically download. Manually add alt text using whatever means your publishing destination provides (e.g., use the image alt text input in a web or document editor, insert directly into website code using the <img alt="...">, etc.).
Note: The Suggested Alt Text may not be the best alt text for your use case. Review it, consider the purpose of the image in context, and adjust as needed. Learn more about alt text.
Additional Information
Learn more:
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.