Audit rules

Image Alt Attribute Missing

An <img> element has no alt attribute. An empty alt="" marks a decorative image and is not missing. In a QuikSEO audit, a failure of this rule has warning severity and counts against the score. Below are the exact condition, its exceptions and the sources behind it, followed by the other rules of the same group.

01 — Definition

How This Rule Is Checked

The rule is a pure function of the fetched page: no extra requests, no account settings. The same input always gives the same result.

Rule Severity and Score

Rule id: images.alt_missing
Group: Images
Severity of a failure: Warning
Counts in the score: Yes, whenever it applies to the page
Required for a score: No
Replaces the check: image_alt

Condition and Exceptions

Condition: An <img> without an alt attribute → fail with count; alt="" is not missing (decorative)
Exceptions: No images → not_applicable

Sources

Sources: HTML Standard, 4.8.4.4 Requirements for providing text to act as an alternative for images (WHATWG, Q49)
Google image SEO best practices (section: Use descriptive filenames, titles, and alt text) (Google Search Central, S23)

02 — Images

Other Rules in This Group

The other checks of the same group, each with its own condition and sources.

Image Lazy Loadingimages.lazy_loading
Images in Legacy Formatsimages.legacy_formats
Image Dimensions Missingimages.missing_dimensions