So, it’s your spouse’s birthday, and you’re shopping online as a visually impaired Voiceover user. You’re on the hunt for the perfect T-shirt—something comfortable, cool, and personal. But, as you’ve probably learned, online shopping for that ideal gift can take three paths: the good, the bad, and the ugly…

The Good:

You find your favorite brand’s website, and they don’t let you down. The alt text is on point and tells you exactly what you’re buying:
"A dry-fit textured black t-shirt with 'World’s Best Husband' printed in bold sans serif white letters."

Boom! Perfect. You know it’s a high-quality, moisture-wicking, comfortable T-shirt with just the right message. Your spouse will wear this shirt with pride, and you can rest easy knowing you got the perfect gift. This is what alt text was made for: giving you all the info you need to Buy Now! Shopping win!

The Bad:

But then, you click on another option, and the description reads:
"Black t-shirt with words."
Wait… what? Which words? What fabric? Is this cotton, polyester, dry-fit, or an itchy potato sack disguised as a shirt? You’re trying to get something specific—like custom lettering with a special message, say "Best Husband Ever" —but instead, you have no idea what you’re actually going to get. It's the online shopping equivalent of a mystery box, and not the fun kind. The need for good alt text is real, people!

The Ugly:

And then there’s The Ugly. You click on yet another shirt, hoping for some luck, but instead of alt text, you get hit with:
"IMG_098478978963563303999222545454_SMALL_FINAL.png"

Access trauma alert!
Now your screen reader is spitting out a meaningless file name, leaving you with zero clues as to what this image even is. Is it a shirt? Is it just a plain cotton shirt? Is it neon green with a giant pineapple? You’ll never know, and frankly, you’re too scared to find out. Exit website! Without alt text, you’re denied access, which is frustrating and borderline traumatic when all you wanted was a nice birthday gift for your husband.

The Moral of the Story:

Good alt text isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for making online shopping accessible for everyone. When it’s done right, you feel like a shopping pro. When it’s done badly or not at all, that’s how you end up with no shirt or giving your spouse a neon cat shirt that says, "I Meow for Tacos." Trust us, no one wants that.