Re: 'alt' was: SVGAccessibilityWG: has-been-clicked or a:visited

> > alt is used to describe an image.

alt is used to *replace* an image.  That's particularly significant
on commercial sites, because it is quite rare for an image to be
there for (just) its literal content, which is what a description will
give you.  Commercial site images tend to be for:

- layout (maybe no alt text);
- branding (may be impossible to convey this with just alt);
- to make an association with the product that cannot be objectively
  justified, so would be illegal if done in words.

Where there is no hidden sub-text, alt should be what you would
have put at that place in the page if images had not been possible,
in the first place.

Received on Friday, 12 November 2004 07:15:12 UTC