Does Alt Text actually help with web search rankings, or just image search?

It helps both, and here is why most people get this wrong. Yes, it is the primary ranking factor for Google Images. But for standard web search, Alt Text acts as a 'relevance signal.' If you are writing a guide on 'SEO Audits' and your images have alt text discussing 'keyword research,' 'technical crawling,' and 'backlink analysis,' you are building a semantic cluster that reinforces your main topic. In my experience with AuthoritySpecialist.com, pages with semantically rich alt text tend to hold their rankings longer because the page is viewed as a more complete resource by Google's entity graph.

How long should my Alt Text be?

Stop counting characters and start describing context. While many 'gurus' suggest a 125-character limit due to screen reader cut-offs, this is largely a myth in modern accessibility. However, for SEO, brevity combined with specificity is key. I teach my network of writers to aim for a 'tweet-length' description—enough to be descriptive, but short enough to be punchy. If you need three paragraphs to describe an image, that content should be in the body text, not hidden in the alt attribute. Aim for 10-20 words that accurately describe what is happening in the visual.

Should I use AI to auto-generate Alt Text?

I take a contrarian view here. While AI tools are getting better, they lack the strategic intent of your content. An AI might see a chart and write 'Chart showing numbers.' A human strategist knows to write 'Chart demonstrating the 40% retention increase from the Specialist Framework.' The AI describes the *pixels*; you need to describe the *insight*. I use 'Free Tool Arbitrage' to generate traffic, but I never rely on automation for the core signals of my authority sites. If you care about the page, write the alt text yourself.

What is the difference between Alt Text and a Caption?

Captions are visible to everyone and are read 300% more often than body copy. Alt Text is invisible to most users but critical for bots. Think of it this way: The Caption is for your human reader to understand why the image matters *right now*. The Alt Text is for Google to understand what the image *is*. In my 'Content as Proof' strategy, I use captions to sell the benefit ('Figure 1: This framework reduced churn by half') and Alt Text to describe the entity ('Figure 1: Diagram showing the Retention Math formula step-by-step'). They should complement each other, not duplicate each other.

Alt Text vs. Image Titles: Stop Confusing Stop Confusing

One is a critical ranking factor for my 800+ page portfolio. The other is a vanity metric. Here is where to focus your energy.

Updated February 2026

Executive Verdict

Winner: Alternative Text (Alt Attribute)

Alternative Text (Alt Text) is the undisputed winner for SEO and accessibility. It is a direct ranking signal that helps Google understand [semantic context](/comparison/keywords-vs-topics-in-seo) and drives image search traffic. Title attributes are purely decorative tooltips that provide zero direct ranking benefit.

Alternative Text (Alt Attribute)

Best for:

Image Title Attribute

Best for:

Martial Notarangelo

Founder, AuthoritySpecialist.com

Updated: February 2026

Stop wasting time on the Stop wasting time on the .. Discover why Alt Text is critical for SEO while Title Text is largely a UX relic. AuthoritySpecialist analysis.

DETAILED COMPARISON

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

4 wins for Alternative Text (Alt Attribute) • 1 wins for Image Title Attribute • 0 ties

Feature

Alternative Text (Alt Attribute)

Image Title Attribute

Winner

Direct Ranking Factor

Whether the attribute directly influences Google's core ranking algorithm.

Yes. Google explicitly uses Alt Text to understand image context and page relevance.

No. Google has confirmed multiple times that Title attributes are not used for ranking.

Alternative

Accessibility (Screen Readers)

How the attribute functions for visually impaired users using screen readers.

Critical. It replaces the image content verbally.

Inconsistent. Most screen readers ignore it unless configured otherwise.

Alternative

Image Search Visibility

The ability to appear in Google Images results.

Primary driver. Acts as the 'anchor text' for the image.

Negligible impact.

Alternative

User Experience (Visual)

What the average user sees on the page.

Invisible (unless image breaks).

Visible as a tooltip on hover.

Image

Broken Image Fallback

What displays if the image file fails to load.

Displays the text so the content flow isn't lost.

Usually displays nothing or a broken icon.

Alternative

PROS & CONS

Strengths & Weaknesses

Alternative Text (Alt Attribute)

()

Pros

Cons

Best For

Every single meaningful image on your website that adds context to the content.

Image Title Attribute

()

Pros

Cons

Best For

Complex diagrams where a 'hover for more info' tooltip aids the user experience.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

SEO vs. SEM: Where to Invest First

Read Comparison

Long-Form vs. Short-Form Content

Read Comparison

Alt Text vs. Image Titles: Stop Confusing Stop Confusing

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Strengths & Weaknesses

Pros

Cons

Best For

Pros

Cons

Best For

Frequently Asked Questions

More Comparisons

SEO vs. SEM: Where to Invest First

Long-Form vs. Short-Form Content

Your Brand Deserves to Be the Answer.

Alt Text vs. Image Titles: Stop Confusing Stop Confusing

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Strengths & Weaknesses

Pros

Cons

Best For

Pros

Cons

Best For

Frequently Asked Questions

More Comparisons

SEO vs. SEM: Where to Invest First

Long-Form vs. Short-Form Content

Your Brand Deserves to Be the Answer.