Composite Figure

A figure that contains multiple distinct visual elements combined into a single image, such as a series of screenshots labeled (a) through (f), a set of charts showing different data sets, or a mix of photographs and diagrams. Composite figures present a significant accessibility challenge because existing alt text guidelines typically provide examples only for single-element images. Describing composites requires authors to both introduce the overall figure structure and provide descriptions of each individual element, along with any relationships between them. Research has found that 38% of figures in HCI publications are composites, making this a common but under-addressed format in accessibility guidance.