One of my friends is super interested in architecture and designing buildings, so whenever we talk they often send me pictures of buildings from around the world or historical photos that show how buildings have changed over time. When we first met, I often would mask my visual impairment and the fact I couldn’t see these pictures very well by asking a lot of questions about the designs, which my friend was excited to answer since this is a topic they are passionate about. It wasn’t until we were looking at a picture one day that my friend realized how my vision loss had impacted my ability to see details in an image. The first detail I had noticed was the way the building extended into the sky in a seemingly infinite way, and the first detail my friend had noticed was that all of the windows of the building were broken and the building had been damaged!
After my friend realized that the main reason I had asked them so many questions about what buildings looked like was because I have a lot of trouble seeing them, they asked me if there was anything they could do to make it easier for me to access images on my own, or if there was a way to write image descriptions that would answer questions that a viewer with low vision might have when looking at an image. Here are my tips for how to write alt text and image descriptions for buildings and architecture, shared from the perspective of someone living with low vision.
What is alt text? What is an image description?
Alternative text (alt text) and image descriptions are text-based descriptions of visual details in an image written primarily for people who are visually impaired (inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment). If an image fails to load on a website, alt text will be displayed in its place, and alt text is also used for search engine optimization and image search tools.
Image descriptions are similar to alt text descriptions that are used by screen readers to recognize images, though there are a few key differences between alt text and image descriptions:
LOCATION
Alt text is typically attached to an image metadata or added in the “alt text” box on social media. Image descriptions may be in the image caption, in a text post, or shared in a text link for extended descriptions.
VISIBILITY
Alt text is usually only visible to screen readers, which read the alt text out loud or display it on a braille display. Image descriptions are “exposed” and can be read by anyone. Saving an image does not save its alt text.
BlueSky, X, and Mastodon are examples of social media platforms that allow users to read alt text whether they have a screen reader or not by selecting the ALT button on an image or gif that has alt text included.
LENGTH OF TEXT
A picture is worth a thousand words, but there may only be room for a thousand characters! Alt text is typically limited to 100-250 characters, though most best practice guides recommend keeping alt text to around 125 characters. Image descriptions can be the same length or even longer, since they are included in the photo caption, in a text post, or text link.
For social media platforms that have larger character limits for alt text, many users will write longer image descriptions in the alt text field, and reprint the same descriptions in the caption of the post. However, this is not completely necessary for platforms that offer exposed alt text that can be viewed without a screen reader.
LEVEL OF DETAIL
Image descriptions tend to go more in-depth about visual details than alt text due to the larger character limit. For example, alt text might tell a user there is a puddle on the floor, but an image description might go into further detail and say there is a puddle of orange juice on a white tiled kitchen floor.
It’s worth noting that some people will use the same text for both alt text and image descriptions, which is an accepted practice. However, I prefer to include more detailed descriptions as exposed image descriptions so everyone can read them whether they have a screen reader enabled or not.
SHOULD I USE BOTH ALT TEXT AND IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS?
I recommend using both alt text and image descriptions when possible, since image descriptions can also be read in large print or by people who aren’t using screen readers. Some people use the same text for both, while others prefer to write more detail in exposed image descriptions and treat them like image captions. Another strategy to share lengthy image descriptions on social media is to write a basic description of the image as alt text and then link an extended image description to read on another page.
When sharing exposed descriptions, I recommend using the label “ID:” or “Image Description:” in front of the text so that it is easier to locate. Some creators choose to enclose the description in parenthesis or brackets, which is also helpful for separating the description from the rest of the caption. Using the label “Alt text:” in a caption is also acceptable and conveys the same message, but the term image description is more appropriate.
Related links
- Options For Writing Extended Image Descriptions On Social Media
- How To Make Accessible ASCII Art and Emoji Memes
- How To Write Alt Text And Image Descriptions For Photojournalism Images
- How To Add Alt Text On Social Media
What to include in alt text for buildings and architecture
Alt text is intended to be shorter than an image description, providing an overview of key visual details in an image that can either provide additional context/clarification about what is in an image, or provide the viewer with the opportunity to visualize what the image looks like. Helpful information to add when writing alt text for buildings and architecture can include:
Names of buildings or landmarks
Iconic buildings and landmarks like the White House, Space Needle, and Empire State Building usually need no introduction when it comes to alt text, as audiences are typically familiar with what these structures look like or can easily search online for a more detailed description. If the purpose of the image is to share something different or unique about the structure, sharing just the name of the building/landmark is sufficient for establishing a visual model of what it looks like. If the purpose of the image is to introduce the building to an audience that has never seen it before or that may not be familiar with it, I recommend including the name of the building, its location, and creating a brief description based on the additional guidance below.
For buildings on college campuses, I recommend including the name of the college/university along with the building name. While many colleges may have a building called the Johnson Center, it helps to share that an image is specifically the Johnson Center at George Mason University.
Type of structure being shown
For places that are not instantly recognizable, it’s helpful to share what type of structure is being shown, such as a house, school, mall, church, or monument. It can be helpful to also share the location of the building if it is relevant to understanding what it looks like— a house on the beach in North Carolina would likely look different than a house in the not-so-beachy Fairfax, Virginia.
General size of the structure
Is this an image of a small house or a large skyscraper? Using general terms like small, medium, large, or gigantic may be appropriate for providing a visual reference for the size of a space. In other contexts, it may be more helpful to provide the number of stories in a building or the square footage, depending on what context the image is being shared in; if the most important detail is that a building has exactly 16 floors, then this number can be included in alt text, but if the goal is to show that it is a tall building, then the word “large” will suffice.
Color and material(s)
This isn’t necessary for well-known buildings such as the White House, but for other structures it can be helpful to include details such as the material(s) used and color. Since it is assumed the focus of the image is the building or architecture, it makes sense to provide this detail instead of just writing “house” or something simple.
Distinctive features
Remember how I didn’t notice the broken windows in the picture my friend showed me? When writing alt text for buildings, it can be helpful to include visual details that someone would be expected to pick up on, such as a house on wheels, blue lights in front of a skyscraper, or a bright red front door. If a specific feature of the building is meant to be the focus of the image, share what it is and don’t expect the viewer to guess what it is on their own. I recommend sticking with one or two distinctive features for alt text and writing more in an image description.
Text or relevant signs
A blurry stop sign in the background of a school building is probably not meant to be the focus of the image, but the sign that provides the building name or text that was added on top of the image should be written out in alt text.
Time image was taken
For buildings that have changed appearance significantly over time, it can be helpful to include the year the image was taken in the alt text, if this information is known. This can be skipped if it is already included in the image caption.
If the time of day or season when the image was taken is relevant, such as if the image was taken at night or if the building is decorated for Halloween, this should also be acknowledged in the alt text. However, specific information about what the decorations look like should be reserved for the image description.
Related links
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Jewelry
- Building Identification: College O&M
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Flowers
What to include when writing image descriptions for buildings and architecture
Image descriptions are typically longer than alt text, as they are designed to be read by anyone and can be used as a way to clarify what is in an image or provide additional description to help the viewer identify different details that they may otherwise have not noticed. Depending on what information is already shared in the image caption, some information from the alt text section may also be included when composing image descriptions. Helpful information to incorporate when writing image descriptions for buildings and architecture can include:
Architectural style and timeframe
Since the goal of writing image descriptions in this context is to provide more information about what a building looks like, it’s useful to know what the architectural style is and what year it was built, if known. Another helpful detail to include in the image description if it is not mentioned in the caption is what year the photo of the structure was taken, since building appearances can change over time.
More specific information on building size
How many floors/stories is the building? What is the square footage? Sharing this information in the image description can provide a better model for the building size that goes beyond “large” or “small.”
Location of the building
Where was this picture taken? While it may be obvious to many people that the Space Needle is in Seattle, Washington and in the United States, it can be helpful to provide clarification about where a building is located, especially if there are buildings that have similar names or if there are several identical buildings in one location. Including the city, state, and country name is helpful for image descriptions because it eliminates ambiguity about where something is located. For example, it might be helpful to know that an image of the Eiffel Tower was taken at Kings Dominion and not actually in France, since the former location is an amusement park that houses a one-third scale replica.
Scenery or time of day the photo was taken
A building that is photographed on a sunny summer day will likely look different compared to if a photo was taken at night during a snowstorm, so sharing the time of day/year the photo was taken can provide useful context. Other details of scenery such as landscaping, holiday decorations, lighting, crowds (or lack thereof), or other items can also be included if they are relevant to the image or would draw the viewer’s attention when viewing the image visually.
Key visual features of the image
What should the viewer know about this image? I find it helpful to imagine that someone is describing an image over the phone when it comes to writing image descriptions that capture key visual features. What stands out about this image? Why is it being shared? What details would the viewer need to know about in order to have a meaningful conversation about the image that is being shown?
Related links
- Tips For Visiting Art Museums With Low Vision
- How To Make Virtual Museums Accessible For Visual Impairments
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
Information to exclude when writing alt text and image descriptions
When it comes to writing alt text and image descriptions, there is such a thing as over-describing an image or including too much detail. In the vast majority of use cases, I do not recommend including the following information:
- Specific measurements for every part of the building, unless they are otherwise shown in the image (e.g. text boxes are added, a ruler or other measuring tool is visible)
- Over-describing what colors look like. I know what red looks like, but I would be interested to know if the front door was bright red or burgundy
- Mundane details such as the exact number of stairs or windows, unless this information is significant. I’m excited to learn about a spiral staircase with a thousand steps, but less excited to learn about a thirteen-step staircase inside a house.
- Irrelevant background information such as if the sky is blue. While it can be helpful to know the time of day, I would expect the sky to be blue during the day and would be confused if this information was specified.
- Random facts that are not related to the image, such as the population of the city the building is located in or biographical details of the architect
- Commentary about the building/architecture style- write alt text and image descriptions objectively whenever possible so that viewers can form their own conclusions about an image.
Related links
More resources for writing alt text and image descriptions
- Alt Text Archives | Veroniiiica
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- How To Write Video Descriptions For TikTok
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
Published May 17, 2020. Updated November 2024