Glossary · Glossary

Alt Text

Alt text is alternative text that describes meaningful images for accessibility and image understanding.

Alt text is alternative text that describes a meaningful image when the image cannot be perceived visually. It is primarily an accessibility feature, and it also gives search systems clearer context when the image matters to the page.

Good alt text explains the useful information in the image. It does not repeat every visual detail, and it should not be treated as a keyword field.

Why it matters

Many Geolyze pages use concepts that benefit from visuals: source graphs, visibility matrices, dashboard screenshots, result examples, and workflow diagrams. If an image carries meaning, alt text helps that meaning survive outside the visual experience.

Alt text also supports editorial discipline. If a team cannot describe why an image is useful, the image may be decorative, unclear, or unnecessary.

How it differs

Alt text is a specific image attribute. Image SEO is the broader practice of making images discoverable and contextually useful.

Alt text also differs from a caption. A caption is visible text near an image. Alt text is exposed when the image cannot be seen or loaded, or when assistive technology needs a text alternative.

Examples

Good alt text:

<img
  src="/images/tools/audit-dashboard.png"
  alt="AI visibility audit dashboard showing prompts, citations, competitors, and benchmark evidence"
/>

Decorative image:

<img src="/images/divider.png" alt="" />

Keyword-stuffed alt text:

<img
  src="/images/chart.png"
  alt="SEO GEO AI SEO best visibility ranking keywords"
/>

The first example describes useful information. The decorative example uses empty alt text because the image does not add meaning. The final example is written for keywords rather than users.

How teams use it

Teams review alt text when adding screenshots, diagrams, charts, logos, or explanatory images. A practical review asks:

1. Is the image meaningful or decorative?
2. What information would be lost if the image did not load?
3. Does the surrounding text already explain the image?
4. Is the alt text concise, accurate, and free of keyword stuffing?

Common misunderstanding

Alt text is not an SEO keyword slot. If an image is meaningful, describe it accurately. If it is decorative, empty alt text can be the correct accessibility choice.