Many internet users find websites from image search results. That’s why savvy site owners optimise their images for eyeballs and search engines. This guide looks at the difference between your image Alt text and the Image Title in WordPress and why this metadata matters.
You will learn about image ALT text vs the Image Title and the difference between them. This is not a technical or difficult tutorial to understand, so even the raw beginner can follow along.
What Is ALT Text?
Alt or Alternative text also goes by the names of Alt descriptions, Alt attributes, and Alt tags. They all mean the same thing, which is a web accessibility tool. These IMG tags are simple HTML attributes used to help visually impaired visitors. People with vision impairment often use screen reader software, which reads the Alt tag to improve the user experience.
Your site visitors only see the image ALT text if the graphics file fails to load or is missing. That’s usually in the form of a broken image icon alongside the readable ALT text.
Image Alt text improves the SEO of a website or blog by ranking better in the image search results. Google, Yahoo, and Bing all have powerful image search engines. But even the best web crawlers can’t tell what an image is about by scanning it, hence the Alt text. Both Alt and title text are important, but the Alt image tag is the most vital for the reasons outlined above.
Some WP users like to improve their image visibility further by creating a detailed image sitemap. A professional sitemap can be an excellent marketing practice for online businesses.
What Is an Image Title?
The image title attribute acts as an extra visual aid. It comes into view when you hover the mouse pointer over the graphic and disappears when you remove it.
Here’s a photo of the Dambulla Cave Temple to illustrate.
The Alt text and title text are different in that titles do not display if the graphic fails to load.
Image titles are also useful when searching for images in a large media library.
Go to Media => Library from the Dashboard side menu.
Select Images from the All Media dropdown.
Type the title—or one of its keywords—into the search box.
Let’s use Dambulla to find the sample image above.
WordPress auto-finds the image(s) and displays it below the search box.
Now you know the difference between image Alt text and Image title and why they matter.
How to add your image Alt text in WordPress
You can add an image alt text to images in new posts and pages or those already published.
This tutorial starts from scratch to demonstrate the process for a WP post. It’s the same procedure for pages in the editor screen.
Go to Posts => Add New from the Dashboard side menu.
Add a title and create some content for your new posts as usual, then click Save Draft.
Click the Add Block (+), then select the image block.
Tip: Type the word image into the search box if you don’t see the block.
You can upload a new image, use one already in the Media Library, or Insert from a URL.
We’re going to upload a new digital image.
The upload window appears.
Locate and double-click your image. Alternatively, select it first, then click Open.
The image Block column opens on the right side of the edit window.
Scroll down to Image Settings and enter your Alt text in the box provided.
Click Save Draft from the toolbar (top).
You’ve now successfully entered and saved the alt text for an image.
Point to note: Adding Alt text to an image from the editor only changes it for that post or page. To save the alt text for future image usage, you must add it to the Media Library image. You can also save image captions and descriptions from the Attachment details screen (see below).
WordPress auto-saves the changes when you exit the edit screen.
How to add your Title text in WordPress
The process for adding Image Titles is similar to Alt text in the WP editor.
Click the Advanced link in the image block tag (below Image Settings).
Enter your title into the Title attribute field.
Click Save Draft or Publish when you’re done.
Your image title now appears on mouseover in popular web browsers.
Point to note: Try to keep image titles short and specific. If you want to add more information for visitors, use the optional Image Caption and Image Description boxes.
Congratulations! You now recognise the differences between Alt Text and Image Titles in WordPress. You know how to use them and why they’re so helpful.
