All WCAG criteria
WCAG 1.1.1 · PerceivableLevel A

1.1.1Non-text Content

All non-text content (images, icons, charts, video thumbnails) must have a text alternative that conveys the same purpose. Decorative content gets an empty alt.

Common failures

Patterns that fail this criterion.

  • 01Product images with `alt=""` or `alt="image"` on retail sites
  • 02Icon-only buttons (cart, menu, close) without aria-label
  • 03Hero banners as background CSS images carrying meaning
  • 04Chart screenshots without a textual data summary
  • 05AI-generated alt text that describes pixels, not purpose
How to test

Testing approach: semi automated.

Automated tools detect missing alt attribute. They cannot judge alt-text quality — that requires manual review by someone who understands the page intent.

axe-core rules

image-altrole-img-altsvg-img-altinput-image-alt
How to fix

Remediation steps.

  1. 1

    Decorative images

    Use `alt=""` (empty, not missing). Screen readers will skip the image.

  2. 2

    Informative images

    Describe what the image conveys, not what it shows pixel-by-pixel. "Bar chart of Q3 revenue by region" beats "blue and gray bar chart".

  3. 3

    Functional images (icon buttons)

    Describe the action, not the icon. "Open menu" beats "hamburger icon". Use `aria-label` on the button if the icon is the only child.

  4. 4

    Complex graphics

    Short alt + long description nearby in the DOM (visible or via `aria-describedby`). Charts especially benefit from a table fallback.

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Related criteria

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WCAG 1.4.5 · Level AA

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All 50 WCAG 2.1 Level A + AA success criteria explained.

View the full checklist