Classifying Images
To determine whether an image requires a text alternative, begin by considering its instructional purpose. Ask yourself: is the image decorative (used purely for visual enhancement) or meaningful (conveying essential information)? If the image is meaningful, the next step is to identify the most effective type of text alternative to support learner understanding. The image classifications below provide guidance on selecting and designing accessible image treatments based on image type and context. Select each classification to explore how to evaluate and remediate images to meet accessibility standards.
Informative
Decorative
Functional
Complex
Images of Text
Informative images convey information or context that is essential to understanding the content (e.g., charts, maps, or illustrations). If the image were to be removed, some element of information would be lost.
Images that are purely decorative are those that add no meaningful information to the content. This includes images that content-related but are included only to break up content or add visual intrigue.
Images containing intricate information, such as infographics, data visualizations, or detailed diagrams are referred to as complex images. Complex images typically contain text.
You may need to add text as an image in your content if there are certain design or stylistic needs that cannot be replicated using HTML/CSS. Examples of this may include logos and marketing materials.
Functional images are images used as an interactive element within content, such as buttons or links. Icons or symbols are also usually considered functional images.
Who Benefits from Text Alternatives?
Accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with formal disabilities. Select each of the following learners to understand how they rely on well-structured text alternatives to fully participate in their online learning.
Michael
Priya
Jorge
Tanya
Info
Info
Info
Info
The Impact of Text Alternatives
Review each of the following real-life oversights. Then, reflect - how could you fix these issues in the most effective way?
In a learning path, a home button is represented by a house icon with no label. A screen reader learner hears: “Button... blank.” They can’t tell what it does, so they avoid using it and instead spend additional time trying to navigate back to the home page.
You add a decorative banner with abstract swirls to a course homepage and write: “Abstract decorative banner with blue and green swirls.” A screen reader reads this aloud to the learner disrupting their experience with irrelevant detail.
You embed a bar graph comparing graduation rates between programs. The alt text attribute says: “Bar chart” but no other information is provided. A learner using a screen reader understands there is a chart with information, but is unable to access what details the chart shows.
Missing Alt Text
Poorly Written Alt Text
Unneccesary Alt Text
Example
Decorative Images
You are writing a lesson on active listening. The lesson is a large block of text, and somewhat overwhelming to read in its current form. You add an image of two people having a conversation to break up the text to make the page more readable. Because this image does not convey any new or essential information to the learners, it is considered decorative. A learner will not miss out on information if this image were not included in the lesson.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Images of Text
As part of the branding for a training you're designing, you want to identify the company using their logo on the homepage header. If you were to recreate the logo with HTML/CSS, the branding elements likely would be lost, so including the logo as an image instead makes sense.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Complex Images
You are writing a lesson for a political science course that discusses the different political parties in the U.S. and compares the similarities and differences of democrats, libertarians, and republicans. You include a Venn diagram to show where all three parties might be aligned on different issues/topics. The Venn diagram provides a visual representation of the information being conveyed in the lesson, and as it includes text should be considered a complex image.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Functional Images
You include a home icon at the bottom of each page to enable learners to easily navigate back to the landing page of your course. This image functions as a link and icon in one. It provides a visual cue to learners on what to expect if selected, and also can function as a link.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Informative Images
You are creating a lesson on how to crochet. You include images for each step of the process, and also some comparison images of common issues first-time crocheters might encounter. In this scenario, the images enhance a learner's understanding by showing examples of correct and incorrect crochet steps. The images build on and further illustrate the materials being presented in the lesson.
Accessibility Approach
Text Alternatives - Interactives
Amber Johnston
Created on June 7, 2025
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Transcript
Classifying Images
To determine whether an image requires a text alternative, begin by considering its instructional purpose. Ask yourself: is the image decorative (used purely for visual enhancement) or meaningful (conveying essential information)? If the image is meaningful, the next step is to identify the most effective type of text alternative to support learner understanding. The image classifications below provide guidance on selecting and designing accessible image treatments based on image type and context. Select each classification to explore how to evaluate and remediate images to meet accessibility standards.
Informative
Decorative
Functional
Complex
Images of Text
Informative images convey information or context that is essential to understanding the content (e.g., charts, maps, or illustrations). If the image were to be removed, some element of information would be lost.
Images that are purely decorative are those that add no meaningful information to the content. This includes images that content-related but are included only to break up content or add visual intrigue.
Images containing intricate information, such as infographics, data visualizations, or detailed diagrams are referred to as complex images. Complex images typically contain text.
You may need to add text as an image in your content if there are certain design or stylistic needs that cannot be replicated using HTML/CSS. Examples of this may include logos and marketing materials.
Functional images are images used as an interactive element within content, such as buttons or links. Icons or symbols are also usually considered functional images.
Who Benefits from Text Alternatives?
Accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with formal disabilities. Select each of the following learners to understand how they rely on well-structured text alternatives to fully participate in their online learning.
Michael
Priya
Jorge
Tanya
Info
Info
Info
Info
The Impact of Text Alternatives
Review each of the following real-life oversights. Then, reflect - how could you fix these issues in the most effective way?
In a learning path, a home button is represented by a house icon with no label. A screen reader learner hears: “Button... blank.” They can’t tell what it does, so they avoid using it and instead spend additional time trying to navigate back to the home page.
You add a decorative banner with abstract swirls to a course homepage and write: “Abstract decorative banner with blue and green swirls.” A screen reader reads this aloud to the learner disrupting their experience with irrelevant detail.
You embed a bar graph comparing graduation rates between programs. The alt text attribute says: “Bar chart” but no other information is provided. A learner using a screen reader understands there is a chart with information, but is unable to access what details the chart shows.
Missing Alt Text
Poorly Written Alt Text
Unneccesary Alt Text
Example
Decorative Images
You are writing a lesson on active listening. The lesson is a large block of text, and somewhat overwhelming to read in its current form. You add an image of two people having a conversation to break up the text to make the page more readable. Because this image does not convey any new or essential information to the learners, it is considered decorative. A learner will not miss out on information if this image were not included in the lesson.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Images of Text
As part of the branding for a training you're designing, you want to identify the company using their logo on the homepage header. If you were to recreate the logo with HTML/CSS, the branding elements likely would be lost, so including the logo as an image instead makes sense.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Complex Images
You are writing a lesson for a political science course that discusses the different political parties in the U.S. and compares the similarities and differences of democrats, libertarians, and republicans. You include a Venn diagram to show where all three parties might be aligned on different issues/topics. The Venn diagram provides a visual representation of the information being conveyed in the lesson, and as it includes text should be considered a complex image.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Functional Images
You include a home icon at the bottom of each page to enable learners to easily navigate back to the landing page of your course. This image functions as a link and icon in one. It provides a visual cue to learners on what to expect if selected, and also can function as a link.
Accessibility Approach
Example
Informative Images
You are creating a lesson on how to crochet. You include images for each step of the process, and also some comparison images of common issues first-time crocheters might encounter. In this scenario, the images enhance a learner's understanding by showing examples of correct and incorrect crochet steps. The images build on and further illustrate the materials being presented in the lesson.
Accessibility Approach