Feature - Null or empty alternative text
- WAVE Category: Feature
- WAVE ACCESSIBILITY PATTERN: Null or empty alternative text
Page Content Status
- WAVE Tool Reference text
- Example of a DOM Snippet Generated From WAVE Tool
- Screenshots of Accessibility Pattern in Use
- Credits/Authors
WAVE Tool Reference
Click to see WAVE Tool Reference
This content added 2026-04-27. Check for updated guidance at: https://wave.webaim.org/api/docs?format=html#alt_null
WAVE Category
Features
WAVE Error
Null or empty alternative text
What It Means
Alternative text is null or empty (alt="").
Why It Matters
If an image does not convey content or if the content of the image is conveyed elsewhere (such as in a caption or nearby text), the image should have empty/null alternative text (alt="") to ensure that it is ignored by a screen reader and is hidden when images are disabled or unavailable.
What To Do
Ensure that the image does not convey content or that the content of the image is conveyed in nearby text (e.g., a caption).
The Algorithm... in English
An image has alt="".
Standards and Guidelines
Example of a DOM Snippet Generated From WAVE Tool
Screenshots of Accessibility Pattern in Use
1. Descriptive Title for Screenshot Set 1
Description/text for image
[INSERT IMAGE HERE]
Credits/Authors
- @MissBrandyLea
- [INCLUDE Contributor 2]
- [INCLUDE Contributor N]