Web/API/HTMLImageElement/longDesc

ObsoleteThis feature is obsolete.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This property is obsolete and should no longer be used.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 SpecificationThe 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

The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
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

HTMLImageElement.longDesc by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.