Which Image Text Matters for SEO? Alt, Title, Figcaption

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Which Image Text Matters for SEO? When optimizing images for SEO, it's not always clear whether you should focus on alt text, figcaption, title attributes, or all of the above. This article breaks down what matters most, especially for Google Image search and featured snippets.

image text for seo - alt, title, figcaption

Which Image Text Does Google Use?

Text Source	Indexed by Google	Shown in Image Snippets	Purpose
`alt` attribute	✅ Yes	✅ Most likely	Describes image for SEO & accessibility
`title` attribute (on image)	🚫 No	❌ Never	Tooltip only; not SEO-relevant
`<figcaption>`	✅ Sometimes	✅ Sometimes	Visible text under image; useful context
Nearby text (paragraphs/headings)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Google uses context around image heavily
Page title & headings	✅ Yes	✅ Sometimes	Helps reinforce relevance of the image
Image file name	✅ Yes	❌ Rarely	Helps with indexing and keyword relevance

When to Use Alt Text

Alt text is required for image SEO. It’s what search engines use to understand what the image is about. It also helps with accessibility for screen readers.

<img src="mountains.jpg" alt="Snow-capped mountains in Switzerland at sunrise" />

What About the Title Attribute?

The title attribute on images adds a tooltip when a user hovers, but it's not used for SEO or image snippets.

<img src="image.jpg" title="Tooltip text" />

🛑 You can skip it for SEO purposes.

Is Figcaption Useful?

<figcaption> adds visible text under the image. It can help SEO if the text adds value, such as a description, credit, or link.

<figure>
  <img src="usb-apps.jpg" alt="Free USB portable apps for Windows" />
  <figcaption>Explore the best USB apps for Windows on the go.</figcaption>
</figure>

Google may index this text and even use it in snippets, but only if it’s highly relevant.

Should Image File Names Be Optimized?

Yes. The image file name is one of the first things search engines look at when crawling your images. A descriptive, keyword-focused filename adds relevance and improves SEO.

✅ Good:

<img src="usb-portable-apps.jpg" alt="Free USB portable apps for Windows" />

❌ Bad:

<img src="IMG_9484.jpg" alt="Free USB portable apps for Windows" />

Best Practices for Image File Names:

✅ Use hyphens to separate words (not underscores or camelCase)
✅ Be descriptive but concise
✅ Include relevant keywords
❌ Avoid generic names like image1.jpg, screenshot.png, or photo.jpg

Best Practices for Image SEO

✅ Always use descriptive alt text
✅ Use <figcaption> if visible context or credit is helpful
✅ Surround images with relevant text
✅ Name images with descriptive filenames (e.g., usb-portable-apps.jpg)
❌ Don’t rely on the title attribute

Example for Maximum SEO Impact

<figure>
  <img 
    src="usb-portable-apps.jpg" 
    alt="Free USB portable apps and software for Windows" 
    width="600" height="400" />
  <figcaption>
    Discover top-rated <a href="/usb-portable-apps">USB apps and games</a> for Windows.
  </figcaption>
</figure>

Which Text Will Show in Search Snippets?

Google usually chooses the alt text as the snippet for image search. If that’s missing or less relevant, it may pull from:

<figcaption> text
Surrounding paragraph or heading

Conclusion

To optimize your images for SEO and snippet visibility:

Use concise, keyword-rich alt text
Add <figcaption> for visible, helpful context
Ensure nearby content supports the image's topic
Give your image files descriptive, hyphenated names

Remember: search engines see what’s in the HTML — so the clearer and more semantically structured your content is, the better your image will perform in search.

Other Image SEO Factors to Consider

Specify Image Dimensions

Always set the width and height attributes on your <img> tags. This helps browsers reserve space and avoid layout shifts — a key metric in Google's Core Web Vitals (CLS).

<img src="example.jpg" alt="..." width="600" height="400" />

Use Optimized Image Formats

Use next-gen image formats like .webp or .avif instead of older formats like .jpg or .png. These load faster and improve page performance, which boosts SEO.

✅ Use: .webp, .avif for most modern browsers
❌ Avoid: large uncompressed .png or .tiff files

Lazy Load Images

Use the loading="lazy" attribute to defer off-screen image loading. This speeds up initial page load and improves user experience.

<img src="optimized.webp" alt="..." loading="lazy" />

Bonus: Structured Data (Advanced)

If you're using JSON-LD or Schema.org, you can describe your image using the ImageObject schema. This helps Google understand the image even more deeply.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "ImageObject",
  "contentUrl": "https://example.com/images/usb-portable-apps.jpg",
  "description": "Free USB portable apps and software for Windows",
  "name": "USB Portable Apps",
  "thumbnail": "https://example.com/images/usb-portable-apps-thumb.jpg"
}
</script>

This is optional but helpful for enriched search results in some contexts (e.g., news, products, recipes).