Using images in content

Using decorative images

Before using decorative images, read When to use images in online content.

Decorative images do not add important meaning to nearby text. They are used to add to the visual layout and do not have a function like a link.

Avoid using meaningless images for decoration. They can clutter a page and distract people from your message.

An image is considered decorative if people can still understand your information without it.

Examples can include:

stock photos that support nearby text but do not give information ("eye-candy")
background images
borders, icons or graphics used for style
photos, illustrations or graphics not referenced in or relevant to the main text
images that repeat information fully explained in the text, but are not referenced by the text (redundant)

You must judge whether to treat an image as decorative or informative based on your reason for including it on the page.

If you are unsure whether your image is informative or decorative, read the page out loud. If you need to explain the image to understand the page, it's probably an informative image. If not, it's decorative.

Redundant images

Redundant images show the same information that's already in the text, but in a visual way. They help people who understand things better by seeing them. They are informative images, but are not essential images.

Redundant images can be treated as 'decorative' for accessibility purposes because removing them does not remove any meaning from the page.

Do not add a caption or alt text to an image that is redundant. Images that are referenced anywhere in the text, even if fully explained, are not considered redundant.

For more about redundant images, read Using informative images