Meta & Tags · Free tool
Alt Text Checker
Alt text is the text alternative for an image, used by screen readers, search engines, and browsers when images fail to load. This tool fetches a URL and reports every image element: which have alt text, which are empty, and which are missing the attribute entirely. It also flags alt text that's too long or appears to be automated filename dumps.
SEO, GEO & AEO: why this checklist matters
Who should use this
Accessibility auditors, SEOs doing technical site audits, content editors publishing image-heavy pages, and developers checking site builds.
Rankings, AI answers, and citations
Alt text contributes to image search indexing. Well-written alt text helps Google Images understand and rank your images for relevant queries. It's also a content quality signal — pages with consistent, accurate alt text tend to score better on accessibility audits.
What to verify before you ship
- Every informative image needs alt text that describes what the image shows
- Decorative images (pure design elements) should use alt='' (empty string), not missing
- Don't start alt text with 'image of' or 'photo of' — screen readers already announce the element type
- Keep alt text under 125 characters; longer descriptions need a separate caption or description element
What you can expect next
Use this workflow on drafts and live URLs. For continuous monitoring across Google and AI surfaces, pair results with Linkstonic SEO audit, AI tracking, and TrueTrace.
Frequently asked questions
Written for search snippets, People Also Ask-style surfaces, and answer engines that quote short Q&A units.
What is the difference between empty alt and missing alt?
An empty alt attribute (alt='') tells screen readers the image is decorative and can be skipped. A missing alt attribute is an error — assistive technology announces 'image' with no description, which is useless and confusing.
Should alt text include keywords?
Yes, when the keyword naturally describes the image. Don't stuff keywords into alt text that doesn't match the image. 'Photo of brown shoes' is accurate. 'Buy brown shoes online cheap leather quality' is stuffing.
Does alt text directly affect search rankings?
It affects image search rankings specifically. It also contributes to overall page quality signals, particularly accessibility scores that are tracked in tools like Lighthouse.
How long should alt text be?
Describe what the image shows in one concise sentence, typically under 125 characters. For complex infographics or charts, use a visible caption or link to a longer description rather than cramming everything into alt text.