Level ASince WCAG 2.0
1.1.1 Non-text Content
Guideline 1.1: Text Alternatives – Everything that is not text gets a description in text.
What does the rule require?
Images, icons, charts and other non-text content need a text alternative that serves the same purpose. Purely decorative images are hidden from assistive technology.
How to get it right
Give every informative image an alt attribute that says what matters: alt="Bar chart: revenue grew 12% in 2025". Decorative images get an empty alt="".
Who benefits most?
- Blind people
- People with low vision
- People with cognitive disabilities
Official wording
This page explains the rule in simple words. Only the original W3C text is normative.
- “Understanding Non-text Content” at W3C (external site)
- Techniques in the WCAG Quick Reference (external site)