In WordPress, images can have several fields associated with them: alt text, title, caption and description.
1. Alt Text (alternative text)
- Text description of the image for people who cannot see it. If the image is purely decorative, leave the field empty.
2. Title
- Name or identifier for the image, useful for content management for the admin
3. Caption
- Text displayed below the image, typically describing it or adding context.
4. Description
- Longer field for describing the image in detail. Kinda like Alt text.
How they differ
| Purpose | Impact | |
|---|---|---|
| Alt text | Accessibility & SEO | High |
| Title | Image management & hover tooltips | Medium |
| Caption | Adds context/credit below the image | Medium |
| Description | Detailed metadata or notes | Low-Medium |
Each field is optional, but filling them thoughtfully can enhance accessibility, user experience and search engine visibility! Otherwise how do you expect the web crawlers to know what’s on your image?