Can we skip non-text content?

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Non-text Content

Rule ID: 1.1.1 Non-text Content

According to WCAG, skipping image content announcement is not acceptable. WCAG requires that non-text content, such as images, have text alternatives that can be presented to users who cannot perceive the images. This ensures that individuals with visual impairments or who use assistive technologies can still understand the content and functionality provided by the images. Providing alternative text descriptions, or “alt text,” for images is a common way to meet this requirement.

But there can be cases where we want to skip giving alternative text for eg. image with some decorative information or only brush effects. For this WCAG have provided a provision to pass alt text as null or empty.

Read more: Using null alt text and no title attribute on img elements for images that assistive technology should ignore

Conclusion:

In this article, we explore the concept of providing alternative text (alt text) for images, captions for videos, and transcripts for audio content. By doing so, we emphasize that non-text content should not be an obstacle for users who rely on assistive technologies. This aligns perfectly with the overarching mission of our Accessibility Bites series: to break down complex accessibility topics into manageable pieces that foster a culture of inclusion and awareness.

We encourage you to read “Accessibility Bites for the Digital World” and share your thoughts and insights. Your engagement is crucial as we work together to build a more inclusive digital world. Stay tuned for more Accessibility Bites, where we will continue to explore essential topics that empower us to make a difference in our community and beyond.

Keep posted on *Accessibility Bites for the Digital World for more interesting topics.*