CofC Web Accessibility Guidelines- Rule (A)

(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content).

Translated: If you hold your pointer over a picture on a web site, a little box should appear that contains a description of the picture. This is called an "alt tag". Alt tags are helpful because the text is recognized by browsers that read pages aloud.

Alt tags are considered good practice even if you're not concerned about accessibility.

What to do: You must provide a descriptive "alt tag" for each image. Here's how to do it in each of the most common HTML editors. Make your alt tags descriptive and to the point.

Dreamweaver (Windows).

• Right-click on the image and select Edit Tag.
• Type some appropriate text in the field Alternate Text.

Dreamweaver (Mac).

• Select the image by clicking on it.
• From the Modify menu, click on Selection Properties.
• Enter the appropriate text in the Alt field.

Netscape Composer.

• Right-click on the image and select Image Prpoerties.
• Type some appropriate text in the field Alternate Text.

Microsoft FrontPage.

• In Page view, right-click the graphic, click Picture Properties on the shortcut menu, and then click the General tab.
• In the Text box, under Alternative representations , type the alternative text for the graphic.

HTML Code example

• 
• The html code for the above image with the alt tag might look like
• <img src="..cofcseal.gif" alt=" College Of Charleston Seal, Founded 1970" >