[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 sabernhardt):

 Whether or not the alt text continues to be saved to the library, the
 interface needs to be clearer when these values will not be saved for re-
 use. People are already confused about how it works now (see tickets
 #49165, #47808, GB8941, and at least one
 [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alt-gutenberg-not-also-write-alt-on-
 gallery/ support ticket]).

 An image already can have multiple alt texts assigned to it, at least when
 attaching it to a post. WordPress saves the alt text while you are still
 in the Media Library or in a library modal ("Insert Media" or "Select or
 Upload Media"). However, once the image is attached to a post, any edits
 in the block sidebar (or the "Image Details" modal with Classic Editor)
 are not saved to the attachment in the database.

 Here are a few ideas for improving the interface with respect to that:
 1. Revise the Alt Text input label—whenever it will not be saved—to
 indicate that it is specific to that particular instance. Perhaps it could
 say something like "Alt text: describe the purpose of the image in this
 [block/post-type]" (including a variable).
 2. Split the functions of the media modal into two steps. First, upload or
 select the image and click a "Continue" button. Then set the Alt Text and
 related details. The input fields still could be left blank whenever
 appropriate, yet this would make them more prominent within the workflow.
 3. Consider adding a checkbox so a user can indicate if the alt text for
 that image should be saved to the library for re-use. Reusable alt text
 may be unusual, but I suspect it's roughly as common as reusing a block.
 (I recently inserted an image that serves exactly the same purpose on
 multiple pages, though I was able to put that inside a reusable block.)

 On another note, if the alt text and/or captions are no longer saved with
 the media attachments, I would miss the ability to set those details for a
 group of images all at once. Especially when the images' alt text is
 similar, it's nice to edit that in the media library instead of post-by-
 post or block-by-block.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/47456#comment:31>
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