Multan Institute of Information Technology
Why Alt Text is Important in WordPress or Any Custom Website
Alt text, also known as alternative text, is very important for any WordPress or custom website because it plays a big role in both user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). When an image does not load properly, alt text is shown in its place so that users can still understand what the image was about. This is very helpful for visitors with slow internet connections or technical issues. Another major benefit is accessibility. Many people use screen readers because of visual disabilities, and screen readers read the alt text aloud so that users can understand the purpose of the image. Without alt text, these users may completely miss important information. From an SEO point of view, alt text helps search engines like Google understand what an image is showing, because search engines cannot “see” images the way humans do. By adding keywords naturally into alt text, a website can increase the chances of ranking higher in image search results and driving more traffic. In WordPress, where content is updated frequently, alt text also helps in keeping the website optimized for search engines without requiring complex tools. For custom websites, alt text plays the same role and makes sure that images are both user-friendly and search-engine friendly. In short, alt text improves accessibility, supports SEO, and ensures that the website delivers information effectively to all types of visitors.
Where We Add Alt Text?
Adding alt text is simple, but you need to know where to do it.
In WordPress:
When you upload an image to the WordPress media library, you will see an “Alt Text” field on the right-hand side. For example, if you are uploading a product photo, you can write something like:
Alt Text: “Black leather handbag for women”
This way, WordPress automatically saves it and shows it whenever the image is used in a post or page. You can also edit it later from the block editor by selecting the image and updating the alt text.
In a Custom Website:
For custom-coded websites, alt text is added directly in the HTML image tag using the alt attribute. For example:
<img src=”handbag.jpg” alt=”Black leather handbag for women”>
Both methods are simple, but very important. In WordPress, it is just a matter of filling a text box, while in custom websites you write it manually in the code. In both cases, the goal is the same: provide a clear description so that users and search engines can understand your image.
