Images with Missing Alt Text
- December 7, 2025
Quick Reference
Element Code: ON-029
Issue: Image has alt attribute but no text content (alt="")
Impact: Fine for decorative images, problem for informative images
Fix: Add text for informative images, keep empty for decorative ones
Detection: Screaming Frog, accessibility audits, manual review
What Is This Issue?
Empty alt text (alt="") is intentionally used for decorative images that don't convey content. However, if an informative image has empty alt text, screen reader users miss important context.
When Empty Alt Is Correct
- Decorative borders and dividers
- Background images in CSS (though these don't need alt)
- Images already described in adjacent text
- Purely aesthetic elements
When Empty Alt Is Wrong
- Product photos
- Charts and graphs
- Images with text overlays
- Photos that add meaning to content
How to Fix This Issue
- Review Each Image: Is it decorative or informative?
- Add Text for Informative: Describe what the image conveys
- Keep Empty for Decorative: Empty alt is correct for decorative images
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
Your images have the alt attribute but it's empty. This is correct for decorative images but wrong for images that convey information. Review each image and add descriptive text where the image adds meaning.
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