What is Alternative Text (alt-text)?
Alternative text is a brief written description of an image. Adding it for each image is required because it serves two important purposes: it allows screen readers to describe the image to users with visual impairments, ensuring they still receive the information the image conveys, and it appears in place of the image if it fails to load.
Good alternative text is concise and descriptive. It should briefly explain what the image shows and, where relevant, why it is there. Avoid starting with phrases like "Image of…" or "Photo showing…" — screen readers already announce that it is an image, so that information becomes repetitive.
Examples of good alternative text include:
- A team of engineers collaborating around a whiteboard
- A close-up of a laptop screen in an office space
- Promotional banner for the Summer Sale: 20% off all job postings
For purely decorative images that don't add meaning to the content, such as a background pattern or a visual divider, a short, neutral description (e.g. "decorative background pattern") is enough.
Alternative text also plays a role in search engine optimisation (SEO). Search engines like Google cannot "see" images the way humans do, they rely on alternative text to understand what an image contains and how it relates to the surrounding content. Well-written alternative text helps search engines index images correctly, which can improve your job board's visibility in image search results and contribute to your overall page ranking. Where it fits naturally, including a relevant keyword in your alternative text can be beneficial. Avoid stuffing in keywords unnaturally, as this can have a negative effect on your rankings.
FAQ
How do I add alternative text?
After you upload an image, a dedicated field for the alt-text will automatically appear.
Is providing alternative text mandatory?
Why is alt-text important?