SEO · Free tool
Image Alt Text Checker
Paste HTML — see which images have missing or empty alt attributes, with the src for quick fixing.
With alt
2
alt="" (decorative)
1
Missing alt
1
| src | alt | Status |
|---|---|---|
| /hero.png | Family at Marina Beach during sunset | ok |
| /decor.png | (none) | missing |
| /icon.svg | (empty) | empty |
| /team.jpg | Engineering team in Bengaluru office | ok |
Missing vs empty alt
A missing alt (no attribute at all) is wrong — screen readers will read out the filename or src, which is rarely useful. An empty alt (alt="") is correct for purely decorative images and tells screen readers to skip. Both alt-text and missing-alt counts matter — they answer different questions.
Good alt text rules
Describe what the image is and why it's on the page. Aim for 5–15 words, under 125 characters (screen readers cut off there). For decorative images, use empty alt. For functional images (buttons, links), describe the action. Pair with the anchor text analyser to also catch link-text issues. The accessibility-plus-SEO angle is in image alt text for SEO and accessibility.
When this matters most
- E-commerce product images — alt text feeds Google Image Search and Lens.
- Blog hero images — context for the article's topic.
- Charts and infographics — describe the data, not just the visual.
- Decorative SVGs — use alt="" to skip with screen readers.
FAQ
When should alt text be empty?
For purely decorative images (spacers, background patterns, icons paired with text labels). Use alt="" - a present-but-empty alt tells screen readers to skip, while missing alt makes them read the filename.
Does alt text help SEO?
Yes - both for image search ranking and as context for the surrounding text. Google explicitly uses alt text as a primary signal for understanding image content.
How long should alt text be?
Aim for 5-15 words. Screen readers cut off around 125 chars. Describe what the image is and why it is on the page - not just literal description.