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Tip

This table has the data labels. Now a person who has visual disabilities can still know what each category stands for without needing color.

Section 5.4: Long Descriptions for Complex Images, Pie Charts, and Bar Graphs

When using complex images like pie charts or bar graphs, it is better to use a long description rather than Alt Text. Alt Text is meant to be brief, while long descriptions give you a bit more freedom to explain the image. There are many ways to create a long description including:

  • Describing the complex image in text below the image.

  • Adding a link below the complex image.

  • Providing the data from the image in text form.

Make sure the long description is visible to all users. Even if they are links, or buttons.

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Warning

This pie chart is missing a long description. This will be an issue to readers who cannot see at all or can see very little.

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Tip

This pie chart is now accessible due to it having a link. The link will take the reader to a long description or index when clicked.

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Tip

This pie chart contains a long description that tells the screen reader and reader exactly what is on the pie chart. This will make it much easier for the reader to understand the chart, and the statistics, and learn at a faster pace.

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Tip

This pie chart is also accessible because it provides Alt Text directing the readers attention from the pie chart to the table. A reader may have a difficult time reading a pie chart, to remedy this, create a table underneath the chart with the same information. This will give them the ability to get the information they need.

Additional Types of Long Descriptions

When you use complex images, you must describe it using Alt Text and have a longer description.

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Warning

This image of the Hagia Sophia in Turkey has an Alt Text. However, there is no long description.

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Tip

This image of the Hagia Sofia has an alt text. There is also a link to the long description that will go into more detail about what is in the picture.

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