Post #2835445
2026-03-10 15:13 UTC
This has come up before. Screen readers do not have a limit. Long-desc is no longer supported. However for much longer alt text, it probably makes more sense to put in an aria-described by pointing to a paragraph or page describing the content.
I don't think that a 1500 character limit is unreasonable. Most folks barely do 20.
But then maybe maybe NASA won't like it https://www.npr.org/2022/07/22/1112878868/webb-telescope-alt-text-visually-impaired
Replies (1)
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@unusnemo@friendica.rogueproject.org 2026-03-10 18:52
@mgifford@mastodon.social When was the last time you said to yourself "man, that alt text is just way to long!", yeah right, never. I do not think this is an issue. To be honest I think worrying about it is kinda majoring in the minors. The only ones significantly impacted by the length of alt text would be those that actually require them. The visually impaired. I do not think they are going to complain about better descriptions to images they cannot see. Though I am not going to speak for them. Maybe someone that needs alt text would reply?