AW: img alt text, links and titles

> In the case of IE (not the case with NS last time I checked, but I
> haven't installed it since quite a few versions ago) title on the
> image itself will override alt for tooltip selection so:
>
> <a href="blah.html" title="sensible link title">
> <img src="blah.gif" alt="sensible alt text" title="sensible link
> title" />
> </a>

Actually, neither NS6 nor Opera 5 (available on my system) will show the alt
text of an image  as a tool tip, which is the correct interpretation of the
specs. As we have heard from others on this list, the alt text is to replace
the image, i.e. when the image can’t be shown due to the rendering software
or when the image can’t be found due to incorrect mark up.

MSIE5PC (and in some cases NS4) incorrectly displays the alt text as a tool
tip, but in fact, the title should be the attribute to display in this
manner. Although I don’t know the exact mechanismen by which MSIE5.5PC
displays titles or alt texts (i.e. when is which attribute shown) I have
noticed exactly the same: titles override alt text in an image. In fact,
title on the link (as in the code above) will override alt text on the image
as a tool tip, too(MSIE5.5PC).

Prost

Jan

Received on Wednesday, 16 January 2002 06:43:01 UTC