Part of the Accessibility audit
Find images missing alt text
Missing alt text makes images invisible to screen readers and hurts your SEO. SiteCurl checks every image on every page.
No signup required. Results in under 60 seconds.
What this check does
SiteCurl scans every image element on your pages and checks for the alt attribute. Images without alt text are flagged. The check covers standard img tags and any images embedded in the page markup.
Alt text serves two purposes: it describes the image for people who cannot see it (screen reader users, slow connections), and it gives search engines text to index. Missing alt text fails on both counts.
Why it matters
One in four US adults has a disability. Screen reader users hear alt text read aloud to understand what an image shows. Without it, the image might as well not exist for them. That is not just an accessibility gap: it is a lost opportunity to communicate with part of your audience.
Search engines also use alt text to understand images. Properly described images can appear in image search results, driving additional traffic. Missing alt text is one of the most common accessibility issues on the web, and one of the easiest to fix.
How to fix it
Add an alt attribute to every img tag. Describe what the image shows in a few words. Be specific: instead of alt='image', write alt='Team photo from 2024 company retreat'. Keep it under 125 characters.
For decorative images that add no information (borders, spacers, background textures), use an empty alt attribute: alt=''. This tells screen readers to skip the image instead of announcing it.
Most CMS platforms have an alt text field in the media library. Go through your images and add descriptions to the ones SiteCurl flagged.
Example findings from a scan
4 images missing alt text on /about
Hero image on / has no alt attribute
Product image on /services missing alt text
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Frequently asked questions
Should every image have alt text?
Every informational image should. Decorative images that add no meaning should use an empty alt attribute (alt='') so screen readers skip them.
How long should alt text be?
Keep it under 125 characters. Describe what the image shows, not what you want people to think about it. Be specific and concise.
Does alt text help with SEO?
Yes. Search engines use alt text to understand images. Well-described images can appear in image search results and help search engines understand your page content.
Can I check alt text without signing up?
Yes. The free audit checks for missing alt text as part of a full seven-category scan. No signup required.
What about background images in CSS?
CSS background images cannot have alt text. If a background image conveys important information, consider using an img tag instead, or add a text alternative nearby.
Find missing alt text on your site