Text alternative
This term is defined by more than one standard, and the wording differs. Each definition below is the one that applies to that standard’s criteria.
Definition in RAPDF 1.1
Text associated with an image or complex shape that provides information equivalent to that conveyed by the image or complex shape.
Note: the text alternative is not necessarily a text that describes the image or complex shape. Its purpose is to convey the essential information it provides in text form to people who cannot see the image or complex shape.
Definition in WCAG 2.2
Text (opens in a new tab) that is programmatically associated with non-text content (opens in a new tab) or referred to from text that is programmatically associated with non-text content. Programmatically associated text is text whose location can be programmatically determined (opens in a new tab) from the non-text content.
Example: An image of a chart is described in text in the paragraph after the chart. The short text alternative for the chart indicates that a description follows.
Note: Refer to Understanding Text Alternatives (opens in a new tab) for more information.
Source: WCAG 2.2 definition of “text alternative” (opens in a new tab) (W3C)