[Nfb-web] alt vs title

Tue Apr 14 14:19:18 UTC 2009

>From a google search :
Using alt and title attributes correctly
Article at :
www.elated.com/articles/using-alt-and-title-attributes-correctly/

So, to summarize: Use alt to provide alternative text for an element, to
be shown when the element can't be displayed. Use title to supply
additional text to describe the element in more detail when necessary.

But this discussion started when someone saw the title twice at the top
of the page.  The <title> tag is placed in the <head> of the document
and is used when a site is bookmarked.  Non-screen reader users don't
normally see the page title until they save a site to their favorites.

<title> is important also because it will appear in search engines.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Lloyd Rasmussen
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 8:39 PM
To: 'NFB Webmaster's List'
Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] alt vs title

I think that Window-Eyes uses the title attribute when an alt is not
found.
I didn't read the references cited in a subsequent message.  In the Lynx
text-mode browser, alt text is shown in-line with other text, in HTML
order, with no attempt to position this text in any way.  In Internet
Explorer, and presumably other graphical browsers, alt text is like a
tooltip that pops up when the mouse hovers over a graphic which has this
text.  I don't know where the tooltip is positioned on the browser
screen, but it is not in line with surrounding text in HTML order, as we
see it in the browse buffer (virtual cursor) of a screen reader.  So my
understanding was that the title attribute may not appear on screen
visually, but can give screen reader users a clue to the meaning of a
graphic without causing distraction to sighted web users.  How this
plays out for magnification users and others, I don't know.  And if I'm
all wet, I hope someone sets me straight.  I know that Window-Eyes can
read title attributes on elements, but I am not clear on when this comes
into play and how much of it is the default behavior.

Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU, Kensington, Maryland
Home:  http://lras.home.sprynet.com
Work:  http://www.loc.gov/nls

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Michael Hansen
> Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 6:52 AM
> To: NFB Webmaster's List
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] alt vs title
> 
> Personally I have never used the title attribute. I have only used the

> alt attribute to provide descriptions of graphics. I am not sure that 
> the screen readers used by the blind even make use of the title 
> attribute.
> 
> Does anyone on the list know if JAWS or WindowEyes make use of the 
> titel attribute in any way?
> 
> Mike
> 
> On 4/10/09, Robin Brunner <compuplace at ecc-cr.net> wrote:
> > Every link has a tab index
> > For images which are also links:
> > I have alt attribute with the <img> tag and title attribute with the

> > <a> tag Should I add titles to images which are NOT links but which 
> > already have alt attributes?
> > I'm green, and striving for
> > best inclusive design without too much noise.
> > Thank you.
> > Robin Switzer Brunner
> > CompuPlace Director
> > 601 Second Ave SE #3
> > Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401-1305
> > 319-362-4284
> > compuplace at ecc-cr.net
> > www.ecc-cr.net
> > _______________________________________________

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