Obsolete
This feature is obsolete. Although it may still work in some browsers, its use is discouraged since it could be removed at any time. Try to avoid using it.
The obsolete property longDesc
on the HTMLImageElement
interface specifies the URL of a text or HTML file which contains a long-form description of the image. This can be used to provide optional added details beyond the short description provided in the title
attribute.
Syntax
descURL = htmlImageElement.longDesc; htmlImageElement.longDesc = descURL;
Value
A DOMString
which may be either an empty string (indicating that no long description is available) or the URL of a file containing a long form description of the image's contents.
For example, if the image is a PNG of a flowchart. The longDesc
property could be used to provide an explanation of the flow of control represented by the chart, using only text. This can be used by readers both as an explanation, but also as a substitute for visually-impaired users.
Usage notes
This property is obsolete and should no longer be used. Instead of using longDesc
to provide a link to a detailed description of an image, encapsulate the image within a link using the <a>
element.
Consider the following older HTML:
<img src="taco-tuesday.jpg" longDesc="image-descriptions/taco-tuesday.html">
Here, the longDesc
is used to indicate that the user should be able to access a detailed description of the image taco-tuesday.jpg
in the HTML file image-descriptions/taco-tuesday.html
.
This can be easily converted into modern HTML:
<a href="image-descriptions/taco-tuesday.html"> <img src="taco-tuesday.jpg"> </a>
With that, the image is a link to the HTML file describing the image in more detail.
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
HTML 4.01 Specification The definition of 'HTMLImageElement.longDesc' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Provides an actual description of this property; the HTML5 spec only says it's deprecated. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
longDesc | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support Yes | IE ? | Opera Full support Yes | Safari Full support Yes | WebView Android Full support Yes | Chrome Android Full support Yes | Firefox Android Full support Yes | Opera Android ? | Safari iOS Full support Yes | Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- Compatibility unknown
- Compatibility unknown