Search Engine algorthms and <alt> tags

Question on algorithm emphasis

[mpthink]

Greetings everyone

I would like to know, if anyone will indulge me, whether Google and Inktomi's ranking algorithms take into account at all the text within image <alt> tags?

How does this compare with other Search Engines ranking using the alts?

I would appreciate any help here.

mpthink

[lazerzubb]

Google is known to do this, i would only use 5 words maximum to describe a picture.

The ALT tag seems to have lost some of it's value when it comes to the Google Algo though.

[creative craig]

I use alts for descriptions mainly for when a surfer has images disabled.

As lazerzubb said it has lost its value due to keyword stuffing in the past.

Craig

[mpthink]

I see. It appears keyword stuffing has had pretty detrimental effects on all areas of ethically making your site search engine friendly.

I'll certainly make sure not to put more than one instance of any keywords in alt tags. I bet they penalise even for two occurences.

[martinibuster]

ethically making your site search engine friendly.

You are missing the point entirely.

Alt tags are for screen readers and the sight impaired who use them. Always use alt tags with that in mind.

Alt tags are not for "search engine friendly" web design.

[mpthink]

I dind't know that was the original reason they were conceived, but it makes perfect sense now you mention it. Good idea too.

[mpthink]

But I also thought they were there to enable web designers to give explanations or captions pertaining to the picture that could be useful to a normally-sighted person as well.

[martinibuster]

Short answer to your last post: No.

What you or I "think" doesn't matter. When in doubt consult the w3c.

Attribute definitions
alt = text
For user agents that cannot display images, forms, or applets, this attribute specifies alternate text... Specifying alternate text assists users without graphic display terminals,... visually impaired users, those who use speech synthesizers, those who have configured their graphical user agents not to display images, etc.

Found it here [w3.org]