Alt Text Meaning in Plain English
Screen readers can announce alt text, and browsers can use it when an image fails to load. The right wording depends on what the image contributes in that specific context.
Decorative images that add no information should usually use an empty alt attribute so assistive technology can skip them.
Example
<img src="technician.webp" alt="Technician inspecting a commercial rooftop HVAC unit">Compare that with:
<img src="purple-swoosh.webp" alt="">The first image communicates relevant activity. The second example treats a purely decorative shape as decoration rather than creating noise.
Why It Matters
Thoughtful alternatives help people access equivalent information and make image purpose clearer.