Alternate text is cut-off or not displayed
If image dimensions (@width and @height) are specified, the browser renders alternate text within those dimensions. If alternate text does not fit those dimensions, it is cut-off or not displayed at all. This can result in loss of information to the reader and affects comprehension. This also does not encourage use of alternate text.
Render the following markup:
<h1>I <img src="heart.gif" alt="love" width="16" height="16" /> you!</h1>
Notice that you cannot read the word "love" because it is cut-off or not displayed.
Firefox correctly renders alternate text (not constrained by @width and @height) if page contains a DOCTYPE. While the image is loading, a placeholder (outline) with the @width/@height is rendered. When the image fails to load, alternate text is rendered in place of the image placeholder/outline as shown in the screen shot below.
It would be useful to have alternate text displayed as text, rather than text on a graphic. This way, parts of alternate text could be selected, copied and alternate text would wrap. It would also be beneficial to make alternate text participate in Find operation.
If you do not see your name on this list, sign the petition.
The a11y bugs project is a grass roots advocacy effort to identify and fix bugs that undermine accessibility on the web.
More bug reports are in the works and will be live when we get a commitment from browser vendors to fix the 3 initial bugs.
Follow us on Twitter
Or email us: action@a11ybugs.org
Support other projects: