Re: Null alt tags for decorative images - Technique H67

And not all "decorative" images should be inserted via CSS. For example, if the image is a printer icon next to a "print" text, the code of the link could be:

<a href="..." title="Print this page">
<img src="ico-print.png" alt="" /> Print
</a>

This way, the icon will still be visinle with high contrast settings (css backgrounds disappear), and can also be resized if the user increases the text size.

In ant case, I also agree that many images *are* decorative because their only purpose is to enhance presentation,and not to convey any relevant information, even if they are not strictly "borders or lines".

Regards,
Ramón.

Patrick said:

> On 02/11/2011 21:14, Userite wrote:
>> I am having real problems with a client who insist that certain images
>> are decorative and can therefore be given a null alt tag as per H67. I
>> can accept that a squiggly line or fancy text box border is decorative,
>> but not a largish picture of a building (no particular building, just a
>> museum type facade).
> 
> So what's the purpose of the image? To just look pretty and add some visual interest? In that case, I'd say an empty alt *attribute* is fair enough (others will argue against it, but that's what you get) as long as the text also reflects the same "tone" that the image is trying to convey.
> 
>> I really think that it is time to remove H67 as a technique, either a
>> non-text item such as an image should have a text equivalent, or it
>> should not be imported by HTML but be treated as styling and imported
>> via CSS so that it is totally ignored by screen readers etc. This way
>> there is no need for subjective discussions.
> 
> All you'd get then is designers and developers avoiding any and all accessibility discussion by simply making ALL their images CSS-based and only having lots of empty divs and spans in their page where they then insert images via stylesheet...
> 
> P
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> Patrick H. Lauke
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Received on Thursday, 3 November 2011 00:46:38 UTC