Re: ALT and TITLE Clarification

> Rules for *all* Alt text:
>
> 1) Alt text must be a short description of the image

Replacement of.

> 2) Any text in image must also be in Alt text

Impossible in many cases, as in photographs of signage, books, or type 
samples. And if you think those never come up, you aren't me or my 
friends.

> Rules for TITLE attribute:
>
> IMG element (not used as an anchor)
> - TITLE attribute must be empty

No, *may*. You may use title *at any time*.

> IMG element (used within an anchor)
> - IMG TITLE attribute must be empty
> - A (anchor) TITLE attribute describes link destination

No, you can use both, but then you get a battle for supremacy (which the 
innermost element must win, as it is more specific).

> INPUT element (with TYPE of "image")
> - TITLE attribute describes purpose of form (e.g. search or find)

Are you implying that it's mandatory? Not according to HTML spec.

> AREA element
> - TITLE attribute describes link destination

*if necessary*. Generally it is, but sometimes it isn't.

> The purpose of this proposal is to simplify the use of Alt text

Really, it's to set in stone misunderstandings of alt and title under the 
guise of simplification.

> In the past, we've used Alt text for several purposes which has caused 
> confusion for both authors and readers.

Citation, please.

> It would be easier for everyone if Alt text was used for only one 
> purpose and we used the TITLE attribute for other purposes.

I thought that's what the spec forced us to do in the first place.

> ----- Original Message -----

Is Robarts Library undergoing some kind of plague that forces its 
inhabitants to top-post?

-- 

     Joe Clark | joeclark@joeclark.org
     Accessibility <http://joeclark.org/access/>
     Expect criticism if you top-post

Received on Thursday, 6 January 2005 22:06:00 UTC