Images and alternate text: d-links, an alternative to the longdesc attribute

Dissatisfaction with poor browser support for the longdesc attribute triggered the method of d-links. A d-link is very much like a normal link on the page, displayed with the letter d (for description), which refers to a document with a detailed description. The similarity to the function of the longdesc attribute is clear.

Disadvantages

Although the idea behind a d-link is very simple, it has several major disadvantages:

  • For most visitors a d-link ‘contaminate’ the page. To most visitors the function of a linked letter d beside every image is unclear. Nor will they have any use for this link, if they do not need a textual description of images. All in all a d-link constitutes a distracting element on the page.
  • A d-link is not inextricably tied to an image. Whereas a longdesc attribute is associated with an image because it occurs in the img element, a d-link is not; particularly on pages where several images are displayed close together, it soon becomes difficult to determine which d-link goes with which image.
  • Web developers and content managers should not concern themselves with the lack of support for the longdesc attribute. There is software which supports the attribute, and this support will increase. Visitors who need detailed descriptions for images will have to use software that meets their needs.
  • A d-link is an example of a bad link text .

Do not use d-links on websites. Use of the longdesc (long description) attribute is preferred if the alternate text on the alt attribute is inadequate for understanding the information in the image.

Guideline R-pd.7.3


Web Guidelines version 1.3, November 2007.