Image embed alt-text support

[ZacharyTalis]

Description

Feature request: add an alt_text? parameter to the Embed Image Structure. Copy the text of this parameter to the HTML img alt attribute of the embedded image.

Currently, images included within embeds cannot contain alt-text. This is true for all types of embeds, including Twitter embeds and bot-formatted embeds.

Why This is Needed

A lack of image alt-text is the most prominent shortcoming of Discord's screenreader support. Accessibility-minded Discord servers resort to workarounds as a means of alt-texting embedded images.

Of note, Discord presumably uses Twitter's API to generate bespoke embeds. This API contains support for image fetching alt-text. This results in users clicking through to Twitter in a hunt for alt-text that may or may not be present.

Alternatives Considered

I've written a simple bot to add alt-text descriptions to images, but this is limited to posting alt-text as a separate message below the original image. The result is clunky and inhibiting.

Additional Details

I'm considering this to not be a duplicate of #1087, since:

• this request concerns itself specifically with screenreader support, and
• folks on the Discord API server wanted me to file an issue for tracking purposes.

This request is not asking for a client-side alt-text editor (although that'd be pretty nifty).

Also: someone on the server mentioned that the Open Graph protocol supports alt-text, which seems useful to note.

[ZacharyTalis]

Today, Discord implemented Custom Stickers, a paywalled feature that implements proper alt-text.

Is Discord able to provide any update or thoughts on the implementation of alt-text per the Issue above?

I wrote a summary of the current state of alt-text on Discord (aka, behind a paywall).

[jhgg]

Additional support for alt text within our client is planned for Q3 this year. No further updates at this time.

[IanMitchell]

Gonna unmark this as the answer because it applies to uploads but not embeds yet - hopefully we can expand it to embeds soon

[ZacharyTalis]

Additional support for alt text within our client is planned for Q3 this year. No further updates at this time.

Thank youuuuu :)

[ZacharyTalis]

Bumping this since initial alt-text support was just introduced, at least on desktop.

@IanMitchell, is it accurate to say that:

screenreading (and writing) alt-text isn't yet supported on mobile?
alt-text isn't yet exposed in the API?
embeds don't yet support alt-text? (re: this comment)

And if you can divulge: is there any timeline for implementing further alt-text support?

[RedDaedalus]

Alt text is accessible in the API through message.attachments[n].description. You can also set alt text on outgoing images by providing an attachments array in the create message endpoint.

[ZacharyTalis]

Thank you folks for the helpful info!!

I wasn't able to find that API addition in the changelog, so it's good to see it exists.

[Lulalaby]

Yeah it wasn't announced. At some point it just appeared.

[IanMitchell]

A better changelog is on our list of things to work on, but some of the other stuff is higher priority right now

[Lulalaby]

Understandable.

You all do great work!

[cherryblossom000]

It’s been 2 years. Is this on the roadmap?

[imeesa]

Does this have a time of completion yet?

[consoleSkunk]

Alt text can be set on the new Media Gallery and Thumbnail components: https://discord.com/developers/docs/components/reference#media-gallery

As a side note, the legacy embeds now have a (currently undocumented) read-only description? parameter: https://bsky.app/profile/rcombs.me/post/3llzfdcekzk2a