mediumTechnical SEO

Images Missing Alt Text

One or more images on your page are missing descriptive alt text, impacting SEO and accessibility.

By Seoxpert Editorial · Published Apr 26, 2026

Why it matters

Missing alt text prevents images from appearing in image search results and makes your site less accessible to users relying on screen readers. It also fails WCAG 1.1.1 compliance and can negatively affect mobile-first indexing.

Impact

Unresolved, this issue reduces your site's search visibility and accessibility for users with disabilities.

How it's detected

An automated crawler scans image tags (<img>) and flags those missing an alt attribute or with empty alt text when not decorative.

Common causes

•Images added without specifying alt attributes
•Content editors unaware of alt text importance
•Automated image uploads that skip alt text fields
•Decorative images not marked with empty alt attributes

How to fix it

Review all <img> tags and add descriptive alt attributes that convey the image's content or function. For decorative images, use alt="" to indicate they can be ignored by assistive technologies. Ensure that alt text is concise and meaningful to both users and search engines.

Code examples

Problem: Image missing alt attribute

<img src="team.jpg">

Fix: Add descriptive alt text

<img src="team.jpg" alt="Our team at the 2024 conference">

Fix: Decorative image with empty alt

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

FAQ

Does every image need alt text?

All meaningful images should have descriptive alt text. Decorative images should use alt="".

What should I write in the alt attribute?

Describe the image's content or function concisely for users who cannot see it.

Will missing alt text affect my SEO rankings?

Yes, missing alt text can reduce image search visibility and is a negative signal for mobile-first indexing.

How do I handle background images?

Background images set via CSS do not use alt attributes, but important content should not be in background images.

Found this issue on your site?

Run a scan to see if Images Missing Alt Text affects your pages.

Scan my website →