Editorial reminder: image descriptions

An image description helps readers understand its role in the content. Alternative text should describe the information the image conveys, not merely state that “an image exists”. Avoid repeating a nearby heading or stuffing keywords. A good description is short, concrete and useful even when the image fails to load. For photos of people, products or spaces, say what is shown and why it matters next to the surrounding text. For charts and infographics, summarize the key takeaway.

If the data is complex, point readers to the explanation in the paragraph. Decorative images may use empty alternative text only when they carry no information. When in doubt, treat them as content images. Check the language of the description: it must match the page language and stay grammatically correct. Make reviewing descriptions part of the pre-publish check, together with the title and short intro.

That prevents generic or outdated alt text. A consistent approach improves accessibility, SEO context and content understanding across devices. If an image contains text, that text must also be available outside the image. For image series, keep a similar description style so the gallery feels consistent. Translated alternative text must follow source updates instead of staying on an old version.