Decorative images must not be exposed to assistive technology
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Accessibility isn’t just about avoiding violations — it’s about ensuring that everyone can use your product with confidence. This guide explains each rule’s intent, highlights common issues, and shows how to fix them according to WCAG and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
These guidelines do not replace the official WCAG standards. They’re concise, developer-focused notes to help you identify and fix issues effectively.
If the image conveys no information, give it an empty alt so screen readers skip it.
Why this matters and how to fix it
Why this matters
Decorative images do not provide meaningful information. If they are announced by assistive technology, they add noise to the reading experience and make it harder for users to efficiently navigate content.
How to fix this issue
For purely decorative images, use an empty `alt` attribute (`alt=""`) or apply `role="presentation"`. Ensure the image is not focusable and does not use `aria-label`, `aria-labelledby`, or `title`.
Developer guidance
Decorative icons, separators, and visual flourishes should not be announced to screen readers. Use empty alt attributes or implement them as CSS background images. If the image conveys information, provide a meaningful text alternative instead.
Code examples
Incorrect Implementation
<img src="decorative-border.png" alt="decorative border">Correct Implementation
<img src="decorative-border.png" alt="">Real-World Examples
Before
<img src="wave.svg" alt="blue wave graphic"> <!-- Screen reader announces meaningless description -->After
<img src="wave.svg" alt=""> <!-- Screen reader skips the image entirely -->Manual testing
- 1. Identify images used only for decoration (no meaning lost if removed).
- 2. Inspect the `alt` attribute: verify it is empty (`alt=""`).
- 3. Confirm the element does not use `aria-label`, `aria-labelledby`, or `title`.
- 4. Ensure the image is not focusable (no `tabindex` and no link wrapper unless meaningful).
- 5. Test with a screen reader: decorative images should not be announced at all.
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