Use of alt vs. title attribute for img element

I've noticed that the WAI site uses the old "alt" attribute for <img>
elements, rather than the "title" attribute available for nearly every HTML
4.01 element. While I realize "alt" is recommended in WAI Guidelines and in
the HTML 4.01 spec, Mozilla/Firefox hasn't honored "alt" for several years,
yet they do support "title". Since IE supports both "alt" and "title", and
since when both are present for the same <img> element, IE honors "title",
shouldn't the guidelines recommend "title"? Or should we petition for
Mozilla/Firefox to support "alt"?

 

Sample test cases:  http://kensall.com/tests/title-vs-alt.html
<http://kensall.com/tests/title-vs-alt.html> 

 

Ken Sall

XML Data and Systems Analyst

SAIC - Digital Asset Solutions Division

cell:    301-672-3269

office: 703-709-3889

fax:    703-476-1532

Kenneth.B.Sall@SAIC.com <mailto:Kenneth.B.Sall@SAIC.com>  or sallk@SAIC.com
<mailto:sallk@SAIC.com> 

 <https://www.icmwg.org/>