Alternate (alt) text appears on or near an image placeholder while an image is downloading from the web or in place of an image if it fails to download. It also replaces graphics if the user has the browser set to refrain from displaying images. Alt text can be a symbol- or instance-level button property. You can set alternate text for a button symbol or instance in the Property inspector.

TIP

Applications that assist the visually impaired audibly read the alternate text for graphics on web pages in a browser. For your alternate text, use concise, meaningful descriptions of graphical elements.

To set the alt text for a button symbol in the Button Editor:

  1. Do one of the following to open the button in the Button Editor:
    • Double-click a button instance in the workspace.
    • In the Library panel, double-click the button preview or the symbol icon beside the button symbol.
  2. In the Property inspector, enter the text that you wish to appear as alt text in a browser.

    NOTE

    Changing the alt text for a button symbol won't change the alt text for existing button instances of that symbol that already have unique alt text assigned to them. This also applies to changes made to a button symbol's target and URL.

To set the alt text for a button instance in the workspace:

  1. Select the button instance in the workspace.
  2. Enter the description in the Alt Text box in the Property inspector.