What it is
A purely decorative image should have an empty alt so screen readers skip it. Giving it descriptive alt adds noise for assistive-technology users. Decorative images with verbose alt. Adds noise for assistive tech. Use alt=”” for purely decorative images. Low; a11y. Direct (WCAG).
Why does decorative images without empty alt matter for AI search?
Adds noise for assistive tech.
How do you fix it?
Use alt=”” for purely decorative images.
How do you find it on your site?
- Identify purely decorative images, borders, spacers, flourishes.
- Set their alt attribute to empty.
- Reserve descriptive alt for informative images.
- Re-check the page with a screen reader.
Which ranking and citation factors does it touch?
Empty alt on decoration keeps the accessibility experience clean. It is a correctness detail rather than a ranking lever.
What is the impact?
Low; a11y. Direct (WCAG).
What is the evidence?
Mark decorative images with empty alt. W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2
Frequently asked questions about decorative images without empty alt
What does "Decorative images without empty alt" mean?
Decorative images with verbose alt.
How do you fix decorative images without empty alt?
Use alt=”” for purely decorative images.