image-redundant-alt
Web validation
When an icon or decorative image sits inside the same <a> or <button> element as text that already states the control's purpose, repeating those words in the image's alt attribute creates a doubled name, such as “Home Home”.
Screen reader users then hear the label twice, which slows navigation and can be confusing. Use alt="" so assistive technology announces the visible text once and nothing more.
Pass Patterns
Decorative icon with an empty alt
The word “Home” already labels the link, so the icon uses alt="" to avoid repetition.
<a href="home.html">
<img src="home-icon.svg" alt="" />
Home
</a>Fail Patterns
Icon alt that repeats the link text
The alt repeats the visible text, so a screen reader announces “Home Page Home Page”.
<a href="home.html">
<img src="home-icon.svg" alt="Home Page" />
Home Page
</a>Try It Yourself
Using a screen reader
New to screen reader testing, or need a refresher?
Review this article first: Practical guides for using screen readers
- Load the page and open a screen reader.
- Navigate to the link or button that contains both an icon and visible text.
- Listen to the announced name.
Expected results: Only the visible words are read, once.
Actual results: The same words are read twice.
Inspecting the browser dev-tools
- Open your browser's accessibility panel.
- Select the link or button node.
- Check the computed accessible name.
Expected results: The name matches the visible text only.
Actual results: The name repeats the text, showing the image's alt was included.
FAQ
Why is this rule considered a best practice?
No WCAG success criterion forbids a duplicated alt in this situation. Even so, concise, non-redundant names make controls easier to understand and faster to navigate for people who use assistive technology.
Why is this issue marked as Minor?
Users still receive the necessary information, but repeated words slow interaction and may cause momentary confusion. The impact is noticeable rather than severe, and it affects assistive technology users more than others, so the severity is minor.