What's wrong
Images rendered without an `alt` attribute or with missing descriptions prevent screen readers from announcing what the image portrays.
Who it affects
People who are blind or have low vision and use screen readers cannot tell what products or graphics look like. Users on low-bandwidth connections where images fail to load also rely on alt text.
How to fix on WordPress
In WordPress, always specify alternative text when uploading images in the Media Library. When coding theme templates or blocks, use `wp_get_attachment_image( $id, 'full' )` which automatically includes the stored alt text. For custom markup, use `esc_attr( get_post_meta( $id, '_wp_attachment_image_alt', true ) )`.
Code example
Problematic Code
PHP
<img src="<?php echo esc_url( $image_url ); ?>" />Recommended Accessible Code
PHP
<?php echo wp_get_attachment_image( $attachment_id, 'large', false, array( 'class' => 'product-featured-image' ) ); ?>How to check your fix
Inspect the rendered HTML in Chrome DevTools to confirm every `<img>` has an `alt` attribute. Run an axe-core or screen reader check and verify decorative images have `alt=""` while informative images have clear, concise descriptions.