Easy-to-parse graphic elements
Can you easily interpret content associated with graphic elements?
Why it’s important: Marisa primarily uses her mobile device to browse websites and has trouble interpreting visualizations with small text.
Steps to take
- Include visual elements in line with text rather than separated from it; a graphic’s proximity to associated content helps reinforce the relationship between the visual and its written description.
- Make sure all graphics have descriptive captions (if necessary). Also make sure that captions share a common form and voice.
- Include meaningful information describing each graphic element in the alt text.
- Use null (empty) alt text when text describing the graphic element is already on the page (
alt=""). - If the graphic element is decorative and you don’t want the screen reader to announce it at all, use null (empty) alt text (
alt=""). - Consider presenting dense technical language in a format other than as part of a graphic. When compressed to mobile view (in other words, a harder-to-read format), graphs and charts with technical language can be tough to interpret.