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Re: GL's interpretation of null alt-text

From: Bruce Bailey <bbailey@clark.net>
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 18:35:24 -0500
Message-ID: <382A012C.3F95C97D@clark.net>
To: Al Gilman <asgilman@iamdigex.net>
CC: w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
Sorry to be sounding this drum beat again, but I agree with Al.

For transparent spacer GIFs, " " is the most logical alt tag!

I am a proponent of short ALT tags, but with the exception of stacked
content-free images (and definately NOT counting the first one in such a
series), I have yet to see an example where ALT="" was the best solution.

Could we go so far as to say that ALT="" should ONLY be used for spacer
images?

Al Gilman wrote:

> So far as I know I have not received answers to the questions raised in
>
>  Re: minutes posted
>  http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-gl/1999OctDec/0021.html
>
> about this point.
>
> To recap in brief,
>
> What user agents ignore the space character in ALT=" "?  What do they do?
>
> What access impairment is caused by the use of ALT="&nbsp;" on a spacer
> image used inline between otherwise un-separated text content?  How should
> one mark this up otherwise if not ALT=" "?
>
> Unless someone can answer those questions better,
> I would like to dissent on points 1. and 2.
>
> Al
Received on Wednesday, 10 November 1999 18:35:08 GMT

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