[wp-meta] [Making WordPress.org] #5985: Accessibility: Use caption in ALT text for single photos

[Making WordPress.org]

#5985: Accessibility: Use caption in ALT text for single photos
-------------------------------------+---------------------
 Reporter:  alexstine                |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement              |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal                   |   Milestone:
Component:  Photo Directory          |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  has-patch needs-testing  |
-------------------------------------+---------------------

Comment (by coffee2code):

 Thanks for bringing this up @alexstine, and for the patch!

 As you surmised, there is indeed the intent to include an explicit ALT
 text field for photos, separate from what is currently labeled
 "Description". Once implemented, description will be treated solely as a
 caption.

 At the moment, the description pulls double duty. In grid views, it is
 used as ALT text. In the single photo view (which is the view in question
 for this ticket), it is displayed as a `figcaption` associated with the
 image.

 In an ideal world, ALT and caption are both defined and both different,
 with the former being a functional description of the photo subject
 matter. But since we don't have both, I haven't been sure which is the
 best approach.

 According to [https://thoughtbot.com/blog/alt-vs-figcaption this article],
 having the ALT and figcaption being the same seems like the text will be
 announced twice by screenreaders? Then again, a figcaption while ALT is an
 empty string means there's no context to the caption for screenreaders.

 The patch adds the ALT text and retains use of the same text for the
 caption (the latter necessary for those seeing the page). Is that the best
 accessibility approach given the current situation?

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/5985#comment:5>
Making WordPress.org <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/>
Making WordPress.org