Example
An image with an alternate text specified:
<img src="smiley.gif" alt="Smiley face">
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Definition and Usage
The required alt attribute specifies an alternate text for an image, if the image cannot be displayed.
The alt attribute provides alternative information for an image if a user for some reason cannot view it (because of slow connection, an error in the src attribute, or if the user uses a screen reader).
Tip: To create a tooltip for an image, use the title attribute!
Browser Support
| Attribute | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alt | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Note: Internet Explorer 7 (and earlier) displays the value of the alt attribute as a tooltip, when mousing over the image. This is NOT the correct behavior, according to the HTML specification.
Differences Between HTML 4.01 and HTML5
NONE.
Syntax
<img alt="text">
Attribute Values
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| text | Specifies an alternate text for an image. Guidelines for the alt text:
|