Text Alternatives

WCAG 2.1 Guideline 1.1 and success criterion 1.1.1 require that all non-text content (images, charts, audio, video, form controls, etc.) have a text alternative serving the equivalent purpose. Text alternatives can be presented as alt text on an image, an aria-label on a control, a transcript for media, or programmatic labels on form fields. Text alternatives enable assistive technologies such as screen readers to convey non-text content, can be re-rendered as braille or speech, and benefit situational contexts where images fail to load. While "alt text" typically refers to the alt attribute on images, "text alternatives" is the broader WCAG concept covering all non-text content.