What should alt text for visual elements in documents provide?

The purpose of alt text for visual elements in documents is to offer content that is accurate and equivalent to the visual. This means that alt text should succinctly describe the essential information or function of the visual element, ensuring that individuals using screen readers or other assistive technologies can understand the context and meaning of the image without needing to see it.

Providing accurate alt text helps maintain accessibility for users who may have visual impairments, enabling them to fully engage with the document's content. Furthermore, this approach adheres to best practices stipulated in accessibility guidelines, which emphasize the importance of conveying the intent and context of images rather than simply stating what the images are.

Other options, such as providing personal analyses or redundant information, stray from the core objective of accessibility. Alt text should not be used to analyze an image, reiterate information already available in the text, or give overly detailed descriptions that might overwhelm the user, especially when simpler, more concise descriptions can effectively convey the same meaning.