Matan · WCAG · Perceivable

Decorative images

role=presentation/none images should use alt="" so they are skipped by assistive tech.

Pass condition in our engine: Decorative images do not combine role=presentation with a non-empty alt.

1. Problem description

If you mark an image as decorative but give it a verbose alt, screen readers still announce it. The opposite (missing alt on a meaningful image) is a different check.

2. Most common causes

  • A design system sets role=presentation on all icons but copies the filename into alt.
  • CMS default alt is the media title.

3. How to fix it

  1. For decorative images: alt="" and optionally role="presentation".
  2. If the image is informative, drop the presentation role and write real alt.

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