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

An image used as a link is marked decorative.

Why it matters

The link may have no useful accessible name. Screen reader users need to know where a link goes before activating it.

How to fix it

  • Add alt text that explains the link destination or action.
  • Use visible link text when practical so everyone gets the same label.
  • If there is adjacent visible link text, confirm it is part of the same link.
  • Avoid using a decorative-only image as the only link content.

What automated checks can detect

A checker can detect linked images with alt="".

What still needs manual review

Check the complete accessible name of the link, not only the image attribute. A linked image should name the destination or action, not just describe the picture.

Automation cannot always tell whether another element gives the link a useful name or whether the name is clear out of context.

Related tools and guides