Why YSK: If you want to make Lemmy a more accessible place for all, you need to know how to add labels (aka: “alt text”) to embedded images

As many of you are already aware, you can embed images in comments using the following markdown: ![](https://example.com/image.jpg).

That works, but the image will be left unlabeled which leaves screenreader users out of the conversation. This may seem like a theoretical problem, but it’s not – Lemmy already has an active blind community: https://rblind.com/

So, here’s what you can do to add labels when embedding images:

![Earth viewed from the Moon](https://example.com/image.jpg)

That’s it! Any text within the [] becomes “alt text”, which is what screenreaders use for describing images. It’s a small thing, but it makes a world of difference.

Remember: Reddit took something from many of us here. For some, it was a mobile app. For others, it was the ability to operate their own communities. Comment with solidarity; use alt-text.

  • mintiefresh
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    And then is there a way to add alt text to that uploaded image?

    • Bongles@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yes, when I tried it just now it uploaded the picture and put the same text into the comment that you need to link external images ![alt text](link) it just had a link for the newly uploaded photo.