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Image Alt Text Checker

Paste your HTML (or a URL) and instantly flag images with missing, empty, redundant, or low-quality alt text against WCAG 1.1.1.

  • WCAG 1.1.1
  • Catches filename & redundant alt
  • Runs in your browser
  • Nothing uploaded

In your browser: right-click the page → "View Page Source" (or press Ctrl/Cmd+U), select all, and paste it here. Nothing is uploaded.

    How to use the Alt Text Checker

    1. Paste your page HTML. Open your page source (Ctrl/Cmd+U), select all, and paste it in. Nothing is uploaded.
    2. Run the check. Select Check alt text to scan every image, image input, and image-map area.
    3. Review the findings. See which images have missing, empty, filename-like, generic, or redundant alt text.
    4. Fix the flagged images. Write concise, purposeful alt text — or an empty alt for purely decorative images.

    What this checker flags

    • Missing alt — a fail under WCAG 1.1.1; screen readers may read the filename.
    • Empty alt="" — fine for decorative images; we flag it so you can confirm it's intentional.
    • Filename alt — values like IMG_4821.jpg convey nothing.
    • Redundant phrasing — "image of", "picture of", "graphic of" waste screen-reader time.
    • Generic alt — "image", "photo", "logo" alone don't describe purpose.
    • Overly long alt — past ~125 characters, consider a caption or longer description nearby.
    • Image inputs & image maps — <input type="image"> and <area> need alt too.

    Writing alt text that works

    Good alt text answers: if this image vanished, what would the reader need to know? Describe the purpose in context, keep it concise, and don't start with "image of" — assistive technology already announces it as an image. For complex visuals like charts, put the data in a nearby table or text. Our alt text guide has worked examples.

    Missing alt text is one of the most common findings in ADA website complaints precisely because it's easy to detect. Fixing it is low-effort, high-impact — and a good first win on the road to full conformance.

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    Frequently asked questions

    What counts as good alt text?

    Alt text should convey the image's purpose in context, concisely (usually under ~125 characters). Decorative images that add no information should have an empty alt="" so screen readers skip them. Avoid 'image of…', filenames, and generic words like 'photo' or 'logo' on their own.

    Is a missing alt attribute the same as an empty one?

    No — and the difference matters. A missing alt attribute makes many screen readers announce the file name, which is useless. An empty alt="" deliberately marks the image as decorative and is skipped. Use empty alt on purpose, never by omission.

    Why paste HTML instead of entering a URL?

    Browsers block reading another site's HTML directly (CORS), so a paste-based checker runs entirely in your browser with nothing uploaded. To scan a live URL across all WCAG checks, use the website accessibility checker, which fetches and analyzes the rendered page.

    Does passing this check mean my images are accessible?

    It catches the mechanical problems — missing, empty-by-omission, redundant, or filename alt text. It can't judge whether your wording actually describes the image well in context; that still needs human review. It's a fast triage step, not a full audit.

    A scan is the start, not the finish

    Automated tools catch only 30–40% of WCAG issues. Get a free human-led scan and a real remediation plan that makes your site defensibly compliant.

    Get your free accessibility scan See our audit