[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #47456: Improve the user interface to ensure correct usage of the image alt text

[WordPress Trac]

#47456: Improve the user interface to ensure correct usage of the image alt text
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 Reporter:  afercia                              |       Owner:  joedolson
     Type:  defect (bug)                         |      Status:  accepted
 Priority:  high                                 |   Milestone:  5.5
Component:  Media                                |     Version:
 Severity:  normal                               |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  wpcampus-report needs-design-        |     Focuses:
  feedback needs-patch                           |  accessibility
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Comment (by apedog):

 @azaozz

 >It seems that currently this is done "the wrong way" in WP. In order to
 follow the above recommendations WP should stop storing the alt text in
 the DB, and encourage the users/authors to enter appropriate alt text
 **every time** an image is used, including in galleries, etc.

 This is assuming a bit much about how people use WordPress. Also it puts
 quite an onus on authors to make up an alt text **every time** an image is
 re-used. Not all authors/content-creators understand or care about the
 a11y requirements of the 'alt' attribute.

 >Why would there be multiple incorrect/out of context alt texts for the
 users to select from? This encourages improper use. **It is clearly
 recommended to have different alt text every time the image is used**
 (which in reality is pretty rare for non-decorative images).

 I'm not sure that's clear at all. In fact I think quite the opposite is
 true.

 A dropdown/select option of previously used 'alt' texts might be very
 convenient for authors re-using an image in a post or gallery or new
 contexts. They will naturally (hopefully) select the description most
 relevant to their specific usage (or add their own for new contexts). Imo
 ''not'' saving previously used 'alt' texts to the DB will actually
 encourage improper usage. With some authors (especially those that know
 nothing of a11y requirements) will be annoyed by a prompt to add a
 description and just filling in 'img123' 'asdfasdf' etc.
 Requiring "on-the-fly" descriptions to be added, is way more likely to
 lead to improper/inconsistent usage.

 An image's different alt texts ''should'' be associated with the image in
 the DB, and available through the different interfaces of that image.

 This would also allow editors/administrators to more easily review and fix
 incorrect/inconsistent usage by authors across a website/blog.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/47456#comment:26>
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