Accessible image

Accessible Image is a term used in the field of digital accessibility to describe images that are designed to be accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments or other disabilities. These images are typically designed with features such as alt text, long descriptions, and other techniques to ensure they can be understood by users of assistive technology.

Overview

An accessible image is an image that has been designed or modified to be accessible to people with disabilities. This can include people who are blind or visually impaired, people with cognitive disabilities, and people with motor disabilities who may have difficulty using a mouse or other pointing device.

Alt Text

Alt text is a short description of an image that is displayed if the image cannot be displayed for any reason, such as if the user is using a screen reader or if the image file is corrupted. Alt text is a critical component of accessible images, as it allows users who cannot see the image to understand its content and context.

Long Descriptions

In addition to alt text, accessible images often include long descriptions. These are detailed descriptions of the image that provide more information than can be conveyed in the alt text alone. Long descriptions can be particularly useful for complex images such as graphs, charts, or diagrams.

Assistive Technology

Accessible images are designed to be compatible with various forms of assistive technology. This can include screen readers, which read out the contents of a webpage to users who are blind or visually impaired, as well as other technologies such as text-to-speech software and Braille displays.

Techniques for Creating Accessible Images

There are several techniques that can be used to create accessible images. These include:

• Using alt text and long descriptions to provide textual descriptions of the image.
• Ensuring that the image is not the sole means of conveying important information.
• Using high contrast colors to make the image easier to see for users with visual impairments.
• Avoiding the use of images that can cause seizures, such as flashing or flickering images.

See Also

• Digital accessibility
• Alt text
• Long description
• Assistive technology