Does the alt for a non-linked image is ignored by Google? If so, I will not trouble to optimize the alts for non-linked images on my page.

Thanks in advance.

Ethan

- www.ihelpyouservices.com有一个回复，是Moderator的回复，内容如下：

1,(M) Yes, that's true, at least right now. Google only indexes the alt attribute of linked images. But that doesn't mean you should leave the alt out of non-linked images. Just use if for its real purpose: to describe the image for people who can't see it.

In the case of images that only serve the purpose of creating space, you can add an empty alt attribute (alt="").

- www.highrankings.com有两个回复，其中一个是Jill的回复。Jill是美国最著名的几个SEO专家之一。

1，I think the general consensus is that engines ignore them but I'd still put them in anyway- not optimised but for accessibility.

2，(Jill) Yes, you are correct, they are ignored by the search engines. Alt attributes aren't really an SEO technique, they are a design concern.

- www.webproworld.com有12个回复，其中两个是Moderator的回复。

1， I doubt whether the image is linked matters. IMO the text will still count......probably not much though.

2， I've heard that it doesn't count at all, but it is text so I suppose that it counts a little. Most likely very little.

3， I've heard it bounced around some other forums that Google will ignore alt text without a link. However, it is still a good idea to use them in case the image doesn't load, accessibility, etc; and the fact that Yahoo probably doesn't ignore them.

4，(M) Is there any proof that Google will ignore it if there is no link?

5, Google states in their guidelines to use proper web design methods to have good code in your pages. Using an alt tag on images is something you do for accessibility, like achronister pointed out. Site readers used by blind people scan the alt tags and the speaker reads the text to them so blind people know what the images are there for. It's just a good practice to get in to.

6， Not that I know of. My source came from some research one of the SEO forums did some time ago. I don't remember where. There was some mathematical evidence that demonstrated that backed up the conclustion somewhat.

My point was it is a good idea to use them anyway even if Google doesn't pay attention to them.

7， I read somewhere, and I am pretty sure it was in this forum, that using ALT tags with keywords was a benefit. I didn't hear anything about it being ignored if it wasn't a link. I'd like to know that as well!

8， i recently done a course on website optimisation through isis (learndirect), the teacher said that google will read alt text as it doesnt understand the image file when it is indexing sites. i dont know for sure if this is correct but all the other advice i got on the course was excellent so i think he was probaly right.

9， The question isn't if google will read alt text. It's if it puts any weight on alt text on images with no link. Google can read meta tags, but it doesn't mean that they do any good.

I'm going to use them anyway, it won't hurt anything.

10， if google reads the alt text, will it not consider it the same as content text and use it to find keywords, or keyword relavence to meta tags???????

11， Google ignores meta tags. And no, it won't consider alt text the same as body content text. It will not carry nearly as much importance as actual body content.

12，(M) I agree it is good to use them either way. Everything is not for Google (-:

我把图片ALT属性的SEO原则总结如下：

1，对于非链接图片的ALT文字，应主要从描述图片的角度考虑。虽然Google会读这些文字，但其重要性比正文内容文字要低的多。

鉴于Google认为使用ALT属性的网页比不使用ALT属性的网页对读者更友好，所有的图片都应加上ALT属性。对于那些只是有排版作用的图片，可使用空ALT属性 (alt="")。

非链接图片的ALT文字也可适当考虑本页的关键词，因为可能对Yahoo等其它搜索引擎有利。

2，对于链接图片的ALT文字，则应完全从SEO角度考虑，视同为链接文字，加入关键词。注意这里的关键词应为被链接网页的关键词，而非本页的关键词。