What is the purpose of an alt tag in HTML?

The purpose of an alt tag in HTML is to provide alternative text that describes the content of an image. This is particularly important for accessibility reasons; it allows screen readers to convey information about the image to visually impaired users. If the image cannot be loaded for any reason, the alt text is displayed in its place, giving users context about what the image is meant to represent.

The alt tag also contributes to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), as search engines use this text to better understand the content of a webpage. This helps improve the overall ranking of the webpage in search results, as images are indexed based on the descriptive information provided in the alt attribute.

While the hover effect on an image could involve providing information, it is typically achieved with different attributes like the title attribute or through CSS effects, rather than being the primary function of the alt tag. It’s essential to keep in mind that the alt attribute serves a specific function related to accessibility and image description rather than merely displaying text on hover or styling images.