In order to understand the content of an image, our picture-indexing robot looks for the text in the alt attribute img. tag first of all. The alt attribute specifies the alternative text that is to be shown in case visitors are unable to view the images on your site. If the alt attribute is used, and the image cannot be displayed then the text attribute will appear in its place:
If there is no text in the alt attribute the image will look like this:
The alt attribute is especially important on sites whose content relies heavily on the use of images.
Text can be assigned to an alt attribute like this:
<img border="0" alt="[image caption]" src="image.jpg"
width="[image width]" height="[image height]">
You should only include words that directly relate to the picture, as opposed to all the keywords from the site or page. This helps our robot find images more accurately, and in turn, users of Yandex are more likely to select your image and be directed to your site.
The title attribute img tag is also used to describe images. Any text written in this attribute will appear when you hover your mouse over the picture.
Text can assigned to a title attibute like this:
<img border="0" alt="[image caption]" title="[image caption]"
src="image.jpg" width="[image width]" height="[image height]">
If the image is a link, it's better to associate the title to the link:
<a href="link.html" title="[link caption]"><img border="0" alt="[image caption]"
src="image.jpg" width="[image width]" height="[image height]"></a>
Although the alt and title texts are important for search engines, please ensure that these attributes are written with the users of your site in mind, it will make your website much easier to use. These attibribute descriptions should correspond with the content of the images.
The following texts are used as well as alt and title in searches:
- The text in links to pictures from other pages and sites;
- Text adjacent to the picture — ie text located in close proximity to the picture on the same webpage.
- The texts and headings that frame the picture.
- File names and screenshots, including transliteration and simplified literal translations if these names are in foreign languages.
