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What is the difference between alt and title tags for images

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Nima, Jan 10, 2007.

  1. #1
    What is the difference between alt and title tags for images?

    Thanks
     
    Nima, Jan 10, 2007 IP
  2. Cryogenius

    Cryogenius Peon

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    #2
    IMG tags can only have ALT elements. TITLE elements belong to A HREF tags (links). You can have both, but only ALT tags are believed to have any weight with search engines. I like to use TITLE tags on links to give tooltips to users.

    <A HREF="..." TITLE="description of link"><IMG SRC="..." ALT="description of image"></A>
    HTML:
    Cryo.
     
    Cryogenius, Jan 11, 2007 IP
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  3. kh7

    kh7 Peon

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    #3
    Any element, including pictures, can have a title-attribute . A title-attribute gives an element a title. The alt attribute is more closely associated with the fact that it is a picture you are talking about.
     
    kh7, Jan 11, 2007 IP
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  4. KC TAN

    KC TAN Well-Known Member

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    #4
    In terms of SEO, alt is more useful as it provides info to the search engines. Title tag should not have any effect for SEO but is very useful for usability as mentioned by Cryogenius :)
     
    KC TAN, Jan 11, 2007 IP
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  5. Nima

    Nima Well-Known Member

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    #5
    thanks guys,

    I'm gonna try to have both tags for all my images, and at least alt tags when i feel lazy...

    Cheers,
    Nima
     
    Nima, Jan 11, 2007 IP
  6. sayfreek

    sayfreek Peon

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    #6
    Guys Pull yourself up, research before answre

    Alt is basic attribute for img tag, but the difference is that title is used as a tool tip for al tag but alt is used as an replacement when browser not able to display image.
     
    sayfreek, May 19, 2008 IP
  7. amasum

    amasum Peon

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    #7
    amasum, Dec 7, 2008 IP
  8. Env

    Env Banned

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    #8
    I would advice

    <a href="" title="about us">about us</a>
    Code (markup):
    Make sure the TITLE attributed is the same as the link visible text, do not blast it with keywords which have nothing to do with the link itself. ALT and TITLE are ok for images, no different although some browsers like FireFox display TITLE for images and nothing for ALT. ALT=Alternative
     
    Env, Dec 7, 2008 IP
  9. xclusive

    xclusive Peon

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    #9
    well, don't the names explain themselves? Alt is for alternative text and title for the title of the image. isn't it that simple?
     
    xclusive, Dec 8, 2008 IP
  10. mystec

    mystec Active Member

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    #10
    We all know the spiders are blind so they cant see images. This means they look for alternative ways. and this is alt tag.
    As an example:
    whois.domaintools.com/xxx.com - Images: 43 (Alt tags missing: 4)

    Here we can see what they look for.
     
    mystec, Dec 8, 2008 IP
  11. core8284

    core8284 Peon

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    #11
    Exactly, I don't why some people are too lazy to learn from their own way...:confused:
     
    core8284, Dec 8, 2008 IP
  12. crymealake

    crymealake Peon

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    #12
    I thought readers would be interested in an application called Alt&Title that applies missing alt and title attributes to applicable HTML tags. I have used it on hundreds of web pages and it has saved me many hours of work.

    Give it a go. I hope you find it as useful as I have!

    Here is the web page promoting it...

    http://www.flysoftware.com/products/altandtitle/overview.asp
     
    crymealake, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  13. flanagan

    flanagan Banned

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    #13
    Thanks for nice post
     
    flanagan, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  14. tommyrogue

    tommyrogue Greenhorn

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    #14
    Also the alt tag is used for the visually impaired to give a description of the picture and help with navigation. This developed later on and was not the original reason for the tag. It was for browsers that could not render the images.
     
    tommyrogue, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  15. gunjan5886

    gunjan5886 Peon

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    #15
    Alt tag is for IE and Title tag is for FIREFOX...
     
    gunjan5886, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  16. Montreal Classifieds

    Montreal Classifieds Active Member

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    #16
    ALT text will be shown if image cannot be loaded for some reasons. It also used by google image search. TITLE text shown when you move mouse over the image.
     
    Montreal Classifieds, Mar 22, 2010 IP