When it comes to writing alt text for images, readability scores like the Flesch-Kincaid or other traditional readability metrics aren’t as crucial as they are for general web content. The primary goal of alt text is to make images accessible for users who can’t see them, especially those using screen readers. While readability is still important in terms of clarity and simplicity, the main focus should be on providing accurate, concise, and useful descriptions.
Key Factors to Consider for Alt Text Readability
- Clarity The most important factor in crafting effective alt text is clarity. The description should be easy to understand without using complex vocabulary or sentence structures. Remember, alt text is intended to convey the content or function of an image in a straightforward way, so it should be written so that anyone, including users relying on screen readers, can understand it easily.
- Brevity Alt text should be brief and to the point, typically kept under 125 characters. Most screen readers will cut off descriptions after this limit, so focusing on the essential details is key. While readability tools are useful for long-form content, the character limit for alt text means that short, clear sentences are often all you need.
- Avoid Unnecessary Details When writing alt text, avoid including unnecessary phrases like “image of” or “picture of.” Screen readers already announce that it’s an image, so these extra words add no value and take up precious character space. Stick to describing the most relevant aspects of the image that contribute to the overall content or user experience.
- Function Over Readability Scores The function of alt text is to convey the meaning or context of an image to users who cannot see it. As long as the description is clear, direct, and accurately reflects the image, it doesn’t need to meet traditional readability standards. Readability scores are designed for content that users read themselves, while alt text serves a different function by being read aloud by screen readers.
Conclusion
While readability is important in terms of keeping alt text simple and clear, traditional readability scores are not necessary for alt text optimization. The main priority is to create descriptions that are useful, accurate, and concise to enhance the accessibility and user experience of your website. By focusing on clarity, brevity, and relevance, you can ensure your alt text serves its purpose effectively without worrying about conventional readability metrics.