How to add ALT TEXT to images on the forum

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I’m currently giving the FAQ and Rules a big rewrite but it’s gonna be a while before it’s done because life won’t stop coming and it won’t stop coming, but until then I thought it would still be a good thing to show everyone how easy it is to add alt text to images uploaded or embedded to the forum for better accessibility.

If you’re using the Markdown Editor it’s as simple as changing the text in the brackets. It defaults to the file name, and that’s rarely descriptive enough.

The Markdown and rich text editor button with the Markdown M highlighted

Image of the Markdown text for the above image of button

If you’re using the rich text editor, just click on the image to get a menu popup where you can edit the text.

The Markdown and rich text editor button with the A highlighted

Screenshot of the above image with the menu popup.
Screenshot of the above image with the menu popup.309×170 7.22 KB

I cannot force you to use alt text but I highly encourage it wherever you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and anything is better than nothing. Here’s a helpful guide if you need any tips.

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For an artists’ perspective on writing alt text, here’s one of my favorite websites on the internet: Alt Text as Poetry

Go to the free online book they have there and look at the sections “Why think of alt text as poetry?” and “Alt text as translation”

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