Alt Text
Describes images for accessibility and image search.
What it means
Alt text is the descriptive text applied to an image tag. It serves screen-reader users and is read by search engines that can’t “see” the image.
How it affects your SEO
It helps your images appear in image search and Google Discover, adds keyword relevance context to a page, and is a baseline accessibility requirement — which Google increasingly rewards.
Alt Text — frequently asked questions
Is alt text a ranking factor?
It is a minor on-page relevance signal and essential for image search. Describe the image naturally and include context where it fits, without keyword stuffing.
Should decorative images have alt text?
Purely decorative images should use empty alt text (alt="") so screen readers skip them. Only describe images that add meaning or context.
Related SEO terms
The snippet under your title in results — a click-through lever, not a ranking one.
The single most important on-page SEO element — your result’s headline.
Unnaturally repeating keywords — an outdated tactic that now hurts.
Tells Google which version of a page is the “real” one when duplicates exist.
Is this hurting your rankings?
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