What is Alt Text & How Does It Impact SEO?

Published: 28 Sep 2025

Ever seen the word alt text and wondered what it really means in SEO? Or maybe you’ve asked yourself if adding it to images even makes a difference. Many beginners get confused because alt text sounds technical, but it’s actually very simple.

In this guide, we’ll explain what is alt text in SEO, why it matters for both Google and users, how to write it the right way, and mistakes you should avoid.

Table of Content

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to use alt text to make your images more search-friendly and helpful.

What Is Alt Text in SEO?

Alt text (short for alternative text) is the written description of an image on a web page. It tells search engines and users what the image is about. If someone cannot see the image, such as a person using a screen reader or when the internet is slow, the alt text appears instead. Google also uses alt text to understand images and rank them in search.

You can think of alt text as a short caption that explains the picture. For example:

If the image is of a puppy, alt text could be “Husky puppy playing fetch”
If it is a product image, alt text could be “Red leather handbag with gold chain”

Good alt text helps:

Google know the subject of the image
Improve the chances of showing up in image search
Make your site easier for all users to understand

Why Is Alt Text Important for SEO?

As I have mentioned above in what is Alt text in SEO, alt text tells Google and users what an image means. This is very important because search engines cannot “see” images the way humans do. They read text to understand them.

Alt text helps in many ways:

Better understanding of images: Google uses alt text along with the page content to know what the picture shows.
Image search traffic: Good alt text can make your images appear in Google Images, which can bring more visitors.
Accessibility: People who use screen readers or have slow internet can still know what the image is about.
Anchor text role: When you use an image as a link, Google also uses the alt text as anchor text.
For overall SEO: Images with proper alt text support the page ranking because they add context and value.

So, alt text is not the only factor, but it plays a strong role when Google decides how to rank both your images and your page.

Best Practices for Writing Alt Text

Writing good alt text is not hard, but you need to follow some simple rules. These rules help Google understand your images and also make your site better for users.

Best practices include:

Be Descriptive and Clear
Keep it Short and Natural
Add Keywords only When Needed
Match the Image With the Page Topic
Use Good Filenames with Alt Text

Let’s cover all of these in detail.

1. Be Descriptive and Clear

Alt text should explain exactly what the image shows. Do not use only one vague word like “dog” or “car”. Instead, give a clear picture in words, such as “small white puppy sleeping on a sofa”. This makes it easy for both users and Google to understand the image. The clearer your description, the better your SEO.

2. Keep it Short and Natural

Alt text is not the place to write long stories. A short line is enough to explain an image. Think of it like a quick caption, not a paragraph. This keeps it easy for screen readers to read. Natural, simple words are always best.

3. Add Keywords only When Needed

It is okay to use keywords in alt text if they fit the image. But never add them again and again just to rank higher. This is called keyword stuffing, and Google does not like it. For example, if the picture is about SEO tools, write “screenshot of SEO tool dashboard”. This way you use the keyword in a natural way.

4. Match the Image With the Page Topic

Your alt text should always connect with the topic of the page. If the page talks about fitness, and the image is about a person running, the alt text should say “woman jogging in the park”. This way the image supports the main content. It also helps Google link the image with the right subject.

5. Use Good Filenames with Alt Text

As I have mentioned above, filenames also give Google clues about images. A name like “red-handbag.jpg” is more useful than “IMG001.jpg”. When filenames and alt text both describe the image, Google can read it better. This small step makes your images stronger for SEO. Always try to keep filenames simple and clear.

Examples of Good vs. Bad Alt Text

As I have mentioned above in best practices for writing alt text, how you write alt text makes a big difference. Some alt text is very poor, some is just average, and some is very useful.

Let’s go step by step.

1. Missing Alt Text (bad)

When an image has no alt text, Google cannot understand it. Users who cannot see images also miss the meaning. For example, if the file is “puppy.jpg” but has no alt attribute, it gives no value at all. This is the worst case because it hurts both SEO and accessibility.

2. Keyword Stuffing (bad)

Sometimes people put too many repeated words inside alt text. For example: “puppy dog baby dog pup puppies dog food retriever labrador cheap puppy food”. This is called keyword stuffing. It looks unnatural, confuses users, and Google may see it as spam. Instead of helping SEO, it can harm the site.

3. Simple but Vague (okay)

Alt text like “puppy” is better than nothing, but it is too short. It does not explain what type of puppy or what is happening in the picture. Google and users only get a very basic idea. It is okay, but it does not add much value.

4. Descriptive and Clear (best)

The best alt text is short, clear, and specific. For example: “Dalmatian puppy playing fetch”. This explains both the type of puppy and the action. Google can now connect it with the page topic. Users also understand the picture even if they cannot see it.

Alt Text for Different Image Types

Not all images are the same. Some need detailed alt text, while others need little or no text. Let’s see how to handle different kinds of images.

1. Product Images (E-commerce)

Alt text is very important for product photos. It helps your products show up in Google Images and shopping results. Always describe the product clearly, including color, model, or size if possible. For example, instead of writing “shoes,” write “black running shoes with white sole”. This makes it easier for both users and Google to know what you are selling.

2. Infographics and Charts

Infographics and charts carry a lot of information. Alt text should explain the main idea of the graphic, not every single detail. For example, if you have a chart showing sales growth, you can write “bar chart showing sales increase from 2020 to 2023”. If the graphic is very complex, it is better to give a longer text explanation below the image in the page content.

3. Decorative Images (when to use empty alt)

Some images are only for decoration, like background shapes, design patterns, or dividers. These do not add meaning to the content. In such cases, you can use empty alt text like alt=””. This tells screen readers to skip the image. It keeps the page clean for people who rely on accessibility tools.

4. Icons and Functional Images

Icons are often used for actions, like a search icon, cart icon, or download button. Alt text here should describe the action, not the image design. For example, instead of “magnifying glass,” write “search.” Instead of “shopping cart,” write “view cart”. This helps users understand what the icon does.

Quick Reminder: Mistakes to Avoid

All the parts above are already explaining these well. Here I am dropping the quick breakdown of the mistakes for you to avoid while creating alt text in SEO:

Mistake	Why It’s Wrong	What To Do Instead
Missing alt text	Google and users cannot understand the image	Always add short, clear alt text (unless decorative)
Keyword stuffing	Looks spammy and harms SEO	Use keywords only if they fit naturally
Vague words	Words like “photo” or “image” give no meaning	Write what the image really shows
Using only filenames	Filenames like IMG001.jpg are not useful	Rename files and also add descriptive alt text

Advanced Tips for SEO-Friendly Alt Text

Here are some of the most advanced tips for SEO-friendly alt text in a quick table format, so you can easily skim through them:

Tip	Why It Helps	How To Do It
Translate alt text	Google shows images better in local languages	If your site is in multiple languages, translate the alt text just like you translate page content
Use the same image link everywhere	Google saves time and understands the image faster	Don’t upload the same image many times with different links, use one link only
Check with screen readers	Makes sure blind users understand your images	Use free tools that “read” your page and see if the alt text sounds right
Add extra text for complex images	Some images show too much info for short alt text	For charts or infographics, write short alt text and then explain more in the page text
Use title for SVG images	SVG images don’t use alt text	Add a <title> inside the SVG to explain what it shows

How to Audit and Optimize Existing Alt Text

As I have mentioned above in advanced tips for SEO-friendly alt text, writing good alt text is not enough. You also need to check older images and improve them. This is called an audit.

It makes sure every image on your site has useful and correct alt text.

Here’s how you can do it step by step:

Check your site for missing alt text: Look at your pages and see which images have no alt text. You can also use SEO tools or plugins that highlight missing alt text.
Review the quality of existing alt text: Some images may have alt text, but it may be vague or too short. Ask yourself: does this text really explain the image?
Fix weak or wrong alt text: Replace poor alt text with better descriptions. Add context so it matches the page topic.
Use tools for faster audits: SEO plugins like Yoast, Rank Math, or AIOSEO can show missing alt text. Website audit tools also give reports with all images.
Keep updating over time: Every time you add new images, check the alt text. Make audits a part of your regular SEO checks.

How to Add ALT Text in Different CMS

Here is an explanation of how to add alt text in different content management systems (CMS). Here is a list of some of the most common CMS platforms:

1. WordPress

When adding or editing an image, click on the image to bring up the editing options.
Look for the “Alternative Text” or “Alt Text” field and enter a description of the image.
Save or update the post/page to apply the alt text to the image.

2. Joomla

While editing an article, click on the image you want to add alt text to.
In the Image Manager, find the “Image Description” field and enter the alt text.
Save the article to save the alt text for the image.

3. Drupal

When adding or editing an image, look for the “Alternative text” field or “Alt” text field.
Enter a description of the image in the provided field.
Save or update the content to apply the alt text.

4. Magento

While editing a product or category, go to the “Images and Videos” tab.
Select the image you want to add alt text to.
Look for the “Alt Text” field and enter the desired description.
Save the product or category to save the alt text.

5. Shopify

In the Shopify admin, go to the product, collection, or blog post where you want to add alt text.
Click on the image you want to add alt text to.
Look for the “Alt text” field and enter the description of the image.
Save the changes to apply the alt text.

ALT Text vs. Title Text of Image

Alt Text and Title Text are two different words that are often used interchangeably when talking about images on the web.

Alt Text is a short description of an image that gives information to people who can’t see it, such as people with visual impairments. It works as an alternative to the picture itself.

On the other hand, Title Text is a tooltip that pops up when you hover over the image. It’s used to give more details or context about the image. Remember that Alt Text is for accessibility and Title Text is for extra information.

Final Thoughts

In this guide, we have covered everything about alt text in SEO (what it is, why it matters, how to write it, mistakes to avoid, and advanced tips). I have shared my experience along with Google’s guidelines to make it clear for you.

If there’s any part you didn’t fully understand, just drop a comment below; I’ll be happy to guide you further.

My personal tip: Alt text on images is not just for SEO; it also makes your website more accessible for people using screen readers. So, when you write it, think about both search engines and real users.

And if you still feel confused, you can check out our YouTube channel, Learn With GA, where we share practical SEO tutorials step by step.

FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions related to alt text in SEO:

Is there a free alt text generator?

Yes, there are free tools online that create alt text automatically. These tools scan the image and suggest text. Some are basic, while others use AI. Always review and edit the result for better SEO.

Can I use AI for alt text?

Yes, AI can generate alt text quickly. It helps save time for websites with many images. But AI text may not always be accurate. Always check and refine it to make it more meaningful.

What is alt text for images?

Alt text is a short description of an image. It tells search engines what the image shows. It also helps people using screen readers understand the picture. It improves both SEO and accessibility.

How long should alt text be?

Alt text should be short and clear. Usually, the character limit of alt text is 125 characters or less is best. It should explain the image without extra words. Simple and direct text works the best.

How does alt text work?

Alt text works by describing the image to search engines and users. When an image doesn’t load, the alt text appears instead. Screen readers also read it aloud for visually impaired users. This makes websites more user-friendly.