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Functional images

When an image is used as a link or button, the text alternative must describe the functionality of the link or button rather than the visual image. Examples of functional images include the following:

  • a printer icon to represent the print function
  • a magnifying lens icon to indicate a search feature
  • a header logo used to link to a website's homepage
tip

If you have questions about writing alt text for a particular image, please post in the #talk-accessibility Slack channel.

Example functional images​

Example 1: Toolbar icon​

Image​

Dropdown menu icon in a toolbar

Source: Featured products (Unity).

Context​

A dropdown menu icon in a webpage toolbar, located between the icons for search and customer account login. The dropdown menu contains links to other Unity websites.

Alt text​

Unity resources.

Image​

Unity Documentation logo as link to homepage.

Source: Unity User Manual 2021.3 (LTS) (Unity Manual).

Context​

An image of the Unity logo in the header of the Unity Manual. The logo links to the Unity Manual homepage.

Alt text​

Unity Documentation home.

note

In this example, the logo is also an image of the text "Unity Documentation." However, because the image's primary function is to link to the homepage, the word “home” is added to the alt text.