This is practical accessibility guidance for first-pass triage. It is not legal advice, a formal audit, WCAG certification, or a conformance guarantee.

What this means

The image alt text says only something like image, photo, graphic, banner, screenshot, icon, or logo.

Why it matters

Generic labels usually do not explain the image purpose.

How to fix it

  • Describe the specific useful information in the image.
  • For functional images, describe the action or destination.
  • For logos, usually use the organization or product name, unless visible text or link labelling already provides it.
  • For decorative images, use empty alt instead of generic alt.

What automated checks can detect

A checker can flag common generic alt text terms.

What still needs manual review

Review whether the image needs description, a functional label, or no announcement. Generic terms are suspicious, but the right replacement depends on context.

Automation cannot judge subtle wording quality.

Related tools and guides