What is the Alt Text in SEO?

Alt tags might look like a small detail in SEO, but they quietly do a lot of heavy lifting for your website’s visibility and accessibility. If you’re wondering what alt tags are, how to use them correctly, or why they matter for search engines, this guide will walk you through everything in simple, practical terms.

What are Alt Tags?

In simple words, alt tags (also called alt text or alt attributes) are short text descriptions added to images in your HTML code. They tell search engines and screen readers what the image is about. They are an essential part of on-page seo. 

A basic HTML image with alt text looks like this:

<img src="team-photo.jpg" alt="Digital marketing team working together in an office">

Here, the part inside alt="" is the alt tag or alt attribute.

So, when we ask what alt tags are in SEO, we’re really talking about how this descriptive text helps search engines understand images and how it affects your rankings and user experience

What are alt attributes?

Alt attributes are the technical name for the alt="" part of an image tag in HTML.

• “Alt tag” is a more common term people use.
  
• “Alt attribute” is the correct HTML term.
  

Both mean the same thing in everyday SEO conversation. When you hear people talk about what alt attributes or alt tags are, they’re referring to the same concept: the text that describes an image in the code.

What are alt tags for images used for?

Now that you know what alt tags are for images, let’s look at why they matter:

1. Accessibility

Alt tags help people who use screen readers, such as users who are blind or visually impaired.

• A screen reader reads the alt tags for the image out loud.
• This tells the user what the image represents.
  

Without alt text, they would just hear “image” with no context. So alt attributes are essential for creating an inclusive, user-friendly website.

2. SEO and Image Search

Search engines can’t “see” images the way humans do. They rely on text.

• Alt tags in SEO signals help search engines understand the subject of your images.
• Well-written alt tags can help your images appear in Google Images and other image search results.
• This can bring extra organic traffic to your website.
  

When someone asks what alt tags are in SEO, this is the core idea: they are text hints that help search engines interpret and rank your images.

3. Helping When Images Don’t Load

Sometimes images break or load slowly due to network issues.

• When that happens, the alt tags are displayed instead of the image.
• This still gives users some context and doesn’t leave a blank space.

So alt tags for image content keep the experience smoother, even when something goes wrong technically.

Why alt tags matter for SEO? 

Alt tags aren’t just a “nice to have” – they can influence your SEO in several ways:

1. Better relevance
   Search engines use alt tags and SEO data to understand what the page is about. If your alt text is related to your main content and keywords, it strengthens topical relevance.
2. Improved user experience
   Accessibility is a ranking factor indirectly. Websites that are easy to use for everyone are more likely to perform better in search over time.
3. More opportunities to rank
   When you use alt tags correctly, your images can rank in image search and attract more visitors. For many niches (e.g., products, travel, recipes), image search is powerful.
4. Context for surrounding content
   Good alt text supports the main copy, making the content clearer. This helps both users and search engines understand the page better.
   

Alt Tag Best Practices

Knowing what alt tags are is only half the story. The real magic happens when you consistently implement alt tag best practices. Here’s how to do it:

1. Be descriptive and specific

• Bad: alt="image."
• Better: alt="blue ceramic coffee mug on a wooden tabl.e"

You don’t need to write a full paragraph, but a clear, specific description is key.

2. Use keywords naturally (not stuffing)

Since we’re talking about alt tags SEO, yes, you can include relevant keywords – but carefully.

• Good: alt="organic green tea in a glass cup on a bamboo mat."
• Bad: alt="green tea, buy green tea, organic green tea, green tea SEO"

Search engines can detect keyword stuffing. Focus on describing the image first; only add keywords if they fit naturally.

3. Keep it concise

Aim for 5–15 words in most cases.

• Too short: alt="shoes"
• Good: alt="black running shoes with white sole on grass"
  

Short, clear, and useful is the goal for most alt tags for image content.

4. Don’t say “image of” or “picture of.”

Screen readers already know it’s an image.

• Instead of: alt="image of a red sports car"
• Use: alt="red sports car parked on a mountain road"

Get straight to the description.

5. Focus on context, not just appearance

Think about why the image is there.

• If the page is about “email marketing tools”, and the image shows someone working on a laptop, a better alt tag would be: alt="marketer using email automation tool on laptop."
• This describes the image and aligns with the page topic.

So when considering what alt tags are in SEO, remember: the context around the image matters too.

6. Use empty alt tags for decorative images

Not every image needs descriptive alt text.

• Decorative icons, dividers, or purely visual elements should use:
  alt=""

This tells screen readers to skip them, improving accessibility by reducing clutter.

7. Avoid stuffing every keyword variation

You don’t need to fit all forms, like what are alt tags, alt tags SEO, etc., into one alt text. That looks spammy.

Instead:

• Assign meaningful alt text to each image.
• Use natural language.
• Let the overall page content handle multiple keyword variations.
  

Examples of Good And Bad Alt Tags

Let’s look at some real examples to connect the idea of what alt tags are for images and alt tag best practices.

Example 1 – Product Image

Image: A red handbag on a white background.

• Bad: alt="bag"
• Bad (stuffed): alt="buy red handbag, red handbag sale, handbag online"
• Good: alt="small red leather handbag with gold chain strap"

Example 2 – Blog Post Image

Image: A person working on a laptop showing speed test results.

• Bad: alt="laptop"
• Bad (generic): alt="person using computer"
• Good: alt="marketer checking website speed test on laptop"

This is a good example that supports the SEO intent and adds context.

How to Implement Alt Tags In Your CMS? 

Most content management systems (WordPress, Shopify, Wix, etc.) make it easy to add alt tags for image files:

• When you upload an image, look for the “Alt text” or “Alternative text” field.
• Write your descriptive alt text there.
• Save or update the image.

You don’t usually have to edit HTML directly unless you want full control.

To sum it up:

• What are alt tags? They are text descriptions inside the image’s HTML that explain what the image shows.
• What are alt tags in SEO? They help search engines understand your images and can improve rankings and traffic.
• What are alt attributes? They are the technical name for the alt="" part of the image tag.
• What are alt tags for images used for? Accessibility, better user experience, SEO relevance, and image search visibility.

When you follow alt tag best practices—being descriptive, concise, contextual, and accessible—you’re not just optimizing for search engines. You’re also building a better experience for real people visiting your site.

So next time you add an image, don’t skip the alt text. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in your alt tags SEO strategy and overall website quality.

Feel free to reach out to our team at info@thegoldeninkmedia.com