YSK: How to embed images accessibly on Lemmy

Why YSK: If you want to make Lemmy a more accessible place for all, you need to know how to add labels (aka: “alt text”) to embedded images

As many of you are already aware, you can embed images in comments using the following markdown: ![](https://example.com/image.jpg).

That works, but the image will be left unlabeled which leaves screenreader users out of the conversation. This may seem like a theoretical problem, but it’s not – Lemmy already has an active blind community: rblind.com

So, here’s what you can do to add labels when embedding images:

![Earth viewed from the Moon](https://example.com/image.jpg)

That’s it! Any text within the [] becomes “alt text”, which is what screenreaders use for describing images. It’s a small thing, but it makes a world of difference.

Remember: Reddit took something from many of us here. For some, it was a mobile app. For others, it was the ability to operate their own communities. Comment with solidarity; use alt-text.

MostlyBlindGamer,
@MostlyBlindGamer@rblind.com avatar

This message is officially approved by RBlind. Thank you.

You are all making the open web a better place.

Pillarist,

I wish you could post gifs this way.

OtakuAltair, (edited )
@OtakuAltair@vlemmy.net avatar
Pillarist,

‼️ Last time I tried it, it wouldn’t work for me! Thank you!

Lulu,
@Lulu@sh.itjust.works avatar

description is accurate👍

CeruleanRuin,
@CeruleanRuin@lemmy.one avatar

Sweet, I can actually read the alt text by long-pressing the image. This opens up a whole new avenue for good caption gags.

rbhfd,

Someone called me out on this yesterday. On a thread about rblind, so deservedly so. I had no idea this is how it works though. Thanks!

fastfinge,

That was me, and my bad. As a blind person myself, I’ve never tried to post an image. I knew including alt text was possible, but I didn’t realize the method was undocumented, and Lemmy doesn’t prompt for it. If I had, I would have offered help, not just snark.

rbhfd,

No worries! I never really considered blind people browsing apps, I only became aware of the technical details since the API changes at reddit, so it’s still far from a reflex to think about.

Thanks for pointing it out though.

rbhfd,

Follow up: did I do it correctly here?

lemmy.world/comment/766594

Elektrotechnik,

Very nice, thanks for the write up!

EgnlishPro,
cypherpunks,
@cypherpunks@lemmy.ml avatar

![Dude, sweet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f19cc921c5d2ab5c1c928088f515a330-1200-80.jpg)

that is not how to use alt text.

it should actually be a description of the image, for blind people.

also, web users who aren’t using some accessibility tool can’t even see it without right-clicking and inspecting the element or clicking lemmy’s “view source” button (as i just did to quote your comment here). so, please don’t use alt text for things other than descriptions of images!

trouser_mouse,
@trouser_mouse@lemmy.world avatar

This is wonderful advice, it should be in all introduction material.

Speckle,
@Speckle@lemmy.world avatar

This is really interesting and good to know, thank you for sharing. I’m going to try and remember this for all my images going forward.

For posts that are image based does the OP need to describe them or is that covered somehow already by screen readers?

chaorace,
@chaorace@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

Excellent question. For image-based posts, there is currently no mechanism to directly embed alt-text. This is likely to change in the future, however, so subscribe to lemmy#1086 for updates.

For now, the general advice is to use the post body to describe the linked image (on Lemmy, all posts are allowed to have “self-post”-like text). This would work by linking the image directly as usual and also embedding the same image in the post text with alt-text included there.

Tinawebmom,
@Tinawebmom@lemmy.world avatar

Wait. So this is only if you post a image based comment?

ShittyKopper,

There are no descriptions for image posts. You can however make a post that is both an image and text post at the same time, and throw the description there, until a proper way to put alt text gets implemented.

70ms,

Any tips for a sighted person on what makes for a good and useful description?

ShittyKopper,

I’m sighted (or, rather, sighted enough that glasses work) as well so I’m not the best person to answer this question.

70ms,

Hopefully someone will come along and answer. Thanks. :)

OtakuAltair,
@OtakuAltair@vlemmy.net avatar

Great YSK! Definitely doing this from now!

xaxl,

Is there a way to embed the actual image itself and not have to rely on a third party like Imgur?

EgnlishPro,
raiun,
@raiun@lemmy.world avatar

Lemmy should do it similar to how I have seen this done on Mastodon. When you upload an image an overlay shows up to remind the user to describe the image before submitting. The typical user is not going to remember to do this.

chaorace,
@chaorace@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

An excellent suggestion! I hope you don’t mind, but I went ahead and created a feature request for this just now: lemmy-ui#1759

wit,

This is a really good YSK. Thank you for posting!

chaorace,
@chaorace@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

Unrelated question, but are you a Stormlight Archive reader? I ask because of your username lol

wit, (edited )

YES! But please don’t spoil. I am on the 4th book, Rythm of War, for many months now… I have read 50% but it just goes so slowly… The first and second book, The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance, are my favorite books ever. Wit is one of my favourite characters, just so quick and witty and mysterious…

BrikoX,
@BrikoX@vlemmy.net avatar

You can also copy and paste the image with Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V directly into the post or comment. Then the only think left is adding the alt text.

calr0x,
LordTE7R1S,

Thanks for this post!

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