Re: Questionable implementation of IMG ALT attribute as tooltips
Green J M K (jmkgre@essex.ac.uk)
Fri, 23 Jan 1998 12:24:35 +0000 (GMT)
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 12:24:35 +0000 (GMT)
From: Green J M K <jmkgre@essex.ac.uk>
To: www-html@w3.org
In-Reply-To: <s4c75560.071@smtpgtwy.ausd.k12.ca.us>
Message-Id: <Pine.ULT.3.91.980123121728.727A-100000@serdlc27.essex.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Questionable implementation of IMG ALT attribute as tooltips
On Thu, 22 Jan 1998, Alex Fabrikant wrote:
> <snip prior discussion>
> >Look, I really don't see your problem:
> > *Incorrect usage*> > ALT="There would normally be a picture here..."
> > *Correct usage*:
> > ALT="Pic: Abraham Lincoln"
> >(IMO)
> >Now, following these guidelines, where is your problem???
> What about ALT="-------------------------" for a separator bar
> or ALT="+" for a bullet? I've seen those used a *lot*, and use them myself regularly. This usage complies exactly with the intention of the ALT attribute - to provide user with information of what the image would've contained if it were loaded (and no, ALT="Bullet" is not the best solution IMHO, since, for one thing, it takes up an unnecessarily large room for a bullet)
>
>
For unimportant pictures, why not ALT="[Pic]" or even ALT="" (I'm not
sure that nothingness will validate)?
Also, for separator bars, why not use <HR> and maybe include classes for
CSS? Much faster.
BTW, "+" won't take up much room on the screen, so unless you're using a
dodgy small screen-mode, not much will be over-written.
Personally, for small gfx, I either use HTML (e.g. <HR CLASS="1"> or for
a ball ALT="*" - I don't see any problems, and no-one has yet complained
to me.