How to Add Alt Text to Background Images for Accessibility

Accessibility is an essential part of website design and user experience. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. This highlights the importance of accessible digital content for all users. 

One of the key aspects of web accessibility is ensuring that images, including background images, are properly described for individuals who rely on screen readers. Adding alt text for background images is a simple yet powerful practice that assures inclusivity for people with visual impairments.

This article covers the significance of alt text for background images, implementation steps, common mistakes to avoid, and tools to accelerate the process.

What is Alt Text for Images?

Alt text, or alternative text, is a written description that conveys the content and function of an image to users who cannot see it. This text is read aloud by screen readers or displayed in place of an image if the image fails to load. Alt text is vital for users with visual impairments, as it allows them to understand the context of an image and its role within the page.

For background images, alt text can be tricky. Unlike content images, which have an obvious function (e.g., a product photo or logo), background images often serve a decorative or contextual purpose. Despite this, accessibility guidelines recommend providing alt text for background images, especially if they convey critical information or context.

Next, let’s explore why adding alt text is particularly important for background images.

Why is Alt Text Important for Background Images?

Alt text for background images is essential because it makes content accessible to individuals who rely on screen readers. If background images are not described, users with visual impairments may miss out on important contextual information. This is especially critical for websites where background images are used to support content or convey a message, such as in banners, infographics, or charts.

Without proper alt text, users could struggle to fully engage with the content, reducing their overall experience and potentially excluding them from key messages. Including alt text for background images maintains compliance with web accessibility standards, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and improves the overall inclusivity of a site.

Now that we understand its importance, let’s look at when to use alt text for background images.

When to Use Alt Text?

There are specific guidelines for when to use alt text for background images and when it may not be necessary. Understanding these distinctions helps to ensure that alt text is applied correctly and effectively.

When the Image Conveys Essential Information

If a background image serves a functional purpose, such as a graph, chart, or map, alt text is necessary. Describing the image will help users understand the data or context provided by the image.

Example: A bar chart background showing sales data in a financial report.

When It Provides Context or Meaning

Background images that offer context to the text or have symbolic meaning should be described too, so that all users can grasp the concept.

Example: A background image of a city skyline on a business site helps emphasize an urban focus.

When It Benefits the User Experience

If the background image is integral to the overall aesthetic or user experience of the webpage, alt text should be used to explain its visual role. This assures that visually impaired users can fully participate in the page’s experience.

Example: A background image featuring natural scenery that sets the tone for a wellness website.

Now that we know when to apply alt text, let’s look at the steps involved in writing it correctly.

Steps to Write Alt Text for Background Images

Writing alt text for background images requires a clear and concise approach. The goal is to provide enough information for users to understand the image's purpose, without overloading them with unnecessary details. Follow these steps for effective alt text:

Step 1: Assess the Image’s Role

Consider the function of the background image. Is it providing important context, or is it purely decorative? If it adds meaning or context, it requires alt text.

Step 2: Keep It Concise

Alt text should be brief but descriptive. Focus on the essential details that help users understand the image’s role. Aim for a description between 5 and 10 words, if possible.

Step 3: Avoid Redundancy

Do not repeat information that is already present in the surrounding content. If the image is merely decorative and has no functional value, leave the alt text empty (alt="").

Step 4: Use Simple Language

Make sure the alt text is easy to read and accessible for all users. Avoid jargon or complex terminology, especially if the image serves a straightforward purpose.

Example 1: Decorative Background Image

Alt Text: alt="" (empty, as the image is decorative).

Example 2: Contextual Background Image

If the background image is a photo of a coffee shop used to emphasize a section about a café, the alt text could be:

Alt Text: alt="A cozy coffee shop with tables and a barista counter."

Having a solid understanding of how to write alt text, let’s explore the common mistakes to avoid during this process.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Alt Text for Background Images

When writing alt text for background images, there are several common mistakes that can undermine accessibility efforts. By being mindful of these errors, you can guarantee your alt text remains effective and appropriate.

Mistake 1: Overloading with Detail

Excessive detail in background image alt text can overwhelm screen reader users and detract from the content's purpose. Aim for brevity and relevance to add clarity.

Example

Incorrect Alt Text: alt="A busy city street with several cars, buildings with multiple floors, a blue sky, and trees lining the roads."

Better Alt Text: alt="City skyline with tall buildings and tree-lined streets."

Mistake 2: Repeating Information

Do not repeat information that is already conveyed through the surrounding text or other elements of the page. This can confuse users and lead to unnecessary redundancy.

Example

Incorrect Alt Text: alt="A background image of a pie chart showing the market share distribution, which we just discussed in the article."

Better Alt Text: alt="Pie chart showing market share distribution."

Mistake 3: Using Empty Alt Text Incorrectly

While purely decorative background images can have empty alt text (alt=""), functional or contextual images should always be described. Omitting alt text in these cases can leave users without vital context.

Example

Incorrect Alt Text: alt="" (for a background image of a world map with key locations marked).

Better Alt Text: alt="Map showing global office locations and key regions."

Now that we’ve identified these mistakes, let’s look into how to write alt text for specific types of background images.

Alt Text for Specific Background Image Types 

When dealing with different types of background images, the approach to alt text can vary. Here are some examples of how to write alt text for different background image types:

Branding and Logo Background Images

For background images featuring logos or branding, it is important to describe the logo succinctly for screen reader users.

Example: A logo placed in the background of a page.

Alt Text: alt="Company logo of XYZ Corporation."

Decorative Background Images

For purely decorative images that don’t contribute to the meaning or content, alt text should be left empty so that screen readers ignore it.

Example: A textured, abstract background.

Alt Text: alt="" (leave empty as it’s decorative).

Background Images with Text Overlays

If the background image features promotional text or important messaging, describe the image and its context.

Example: A background image of a shopping cart filled with shopping bags, overlaid with “Big Sale - Up to 50% Off.”

Alt Text: alt="Shopping cart filled with shopping bags with overlay text ‘Big Sale - Up to 50% Off’."

Product Showcase Background Images

Background images featuring product arrangements or lifestyle shots require descriptive alt text to convey the visual content.

Example: A background image showing a display of running shoes in a showroom setting.

Alt Text: alt="Display of running shoes arranged in a showroom setting."

Seasonal or Thematic Background Images

For background images representing seasonal sales or events, describe the theme and any relevant visual elements.

Example: A festive background with holiday decorations and gift boxes.

Alt Text: alt="Festive holiday background with decorations and wrapped gift boxes."

With a clear understanding of how to handle specific background images, let’s move on to some tools that can assist in writing effective alt text.

Tools to Help Write Alt Text for Background Images

Several tools and platforms can assist in generating and managing alt text for background images, making the process more accurate.

Wave by WebAIM

Wave is a web accessibility evaluation tool that checks if images, including background images, have appropriate alt text. It provides visual feedback on potential accessibility issues.

Google Lighthouse

Google Lighthouse offers a suite of audits, including accessibility checks, that help identify missing or incorrect alt text for images. It provides a detailed report with suggestions for improvement.

Tota11y

Tota11y is a JavaScript accessibility tool that helps identify accessibility issues on websites. It highlights missing alt text for both foreground and background images, offering instant feedback.

Once we have the right tools, optimizing the process becomes easier, so let’s look at how StarApps Studio can help.

Optimizing Alt Text in Background Images with StarApps Studio

Adding alt text for background images is essential for web accessibility, and StarApps Studio simplifies this process with its advanced tools. Their solution, Variant Alt Text King: SEO, makes sure that background images are properly described, optimizing both user experience and SEO performance.

Features of StarApps Studio’s Variant Alt Text King

Automatic Alt Text Generation:

StarApps Studio’s platform automates the creation of descriptive alt text for background images, saving time and effort. It generates contextually relevant text, so that each background image is accessible to users relying on screen readers.

Helps with SEO:

In addition to improving accessibility, StarApps Studio helps optimize background image alt text for better search engine rankings. By creating SEO-friendly alt text with targeted keywords, your background images can attract more organic traffic, improving visibility in search results.

Uniformity Across Your Website:

For websites featuring numerous pages or background images, maintaining consistent alt text can be a daunting task. StarApps Studio’s solution guarantees consistent alt text application, which is critical for both accessibility compliance and SEO optimization.

Promotes Accessibility:

The tool makes background images more accessible to users with visual impairments by automatically generating alt text. Adhering to accessibility standards like WCAG and ADA, offers a smoother, more inclusive experience for all users.

Conclusion

Adding alt text for background images is a vital practice for improving web accessibility. It makes sure that visually impaired users can navigate websites and understand the content, regardless of how it’s presented. By following best practices for writing alt text, avoiding mistakes, and implementing tools to simplify the process, you can create a more inclusive online experience.

Properly implemented alt text contributes to a better user experience, increases site accessibility, and maintains compliance with web accessibility standards.

Upgrade your website’s accessibility with StarApps Studio’s Variant Alt Text King, a powerful tool that automates the generation of alt text for your background images. This guarantees consistency and compliance with accessibility standards.

Contact us today and let StarApps Studio help you optimize your website’s accessibility and user experience.

FAQs

1. Can you add alt text directly to background images in HTML or CSS?

No, background images set via CSS do not support alt text because alt attributes are only available for <img> elements. To ensure accessibility, use meaningful content or ARIA attributes alongside background images.

2. What’s the best way to provide descriptive text for background images?

Use adjacent HTML elements, such as <div> or <span>, with descriptive text or apply ARIA roles (like aria-label or aria-describedby). This conveys the meaning of the background image to screen readers.

3. Are there alternative methods to make background images accessible?

Yes. You can replace background images with inline images (<img>) when possible, or include textual descriptions in the content. Also, consider using CSS techniques like visually hidden text to describe the image without affecting the layout.

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