Add or edit alt text on images in KB articles

Overview

Alternative text is a hidden description applied to images so that assistive technology can read them. Users with visual disabilities rely on these descriptions to make sense of visual content.

Considerations

• Keep alternative text short, usually no longer than 150 characters.
• Be descriptive of what the image means in context, not just what it looks like.
• While there is no need to identify the image as an image (e.g., "Image of..."), it can be useful to identify the type of visual (e.g., "Screenshot of...").
• If the information conveyed in the image is complex and cannot be described succinctly, include a full description within the article content, and point to this description within your alt text (e.g., "Screenshot of the login process, described in steps 4 to 6").
• Note: The "Image is decorative" option is intended for images that are purely for aesthetics, and will hide the image from assistive technology altogether. For KB articles, authors are highly discouraged from including purely decorative images. 

Steps

1. Place your image into your article content.
2. Select the image; the image icon in the main toolbar should highlight, and a secondary toolbar should appear above your image.
3. In the toolbar above the image, select the image icon (Image Options).
   
4. In the Insert/Edit Image dialog, enter your alternative text in the field labeled Alternative Description.
   
5. Hit Save in the Insert/Edit Image dialog.
6. Finish writing or editing your article, and then hit Publish.