UA1 Validator / PDF/UA-1 rules / 7.3-1

PDF/UA-1 · CLAUSE 7.3

Image is missing alternative text

A Figure tag has no Alt or ActualText attribute, so the image has no textual equivalent.

Rule 7.3-1 ISO 14289-1 Object: SEFigure

Why it matters

Screen reader users get nothing at all for this image. If the image carries information (a chart, a signature, a logo with text), that information is lost.

How to fix it

  • Add concise Alt text describing the purpose of the image, not its appearance.
  • Use ActualText instead of Alt when the graphic is really text, such as a stylised drop cap.
  • If the image is purely decorative, do not give it a Figure tag: mark it as an artifact instead.
WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content (A)

What the standard says

Figure tags shall include an alternative representation or replacement text that represents the contents marked with the Figure tag as noted in ISO 32000-1:2008, 14.7.2, Table 323

Check your own PDF

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curl -sS -X POST "https://api.ua1.dev/api/validate?format=compact&profile=ua1" \
  -F "file=@document.pdf"