How does using alt tags for images contribute to SEO effectiveness?

Using alt tags for images significantly enhances SEO effectiveness primarily because they help search engines understand the content of the images. Alt tags, or alternative text, serve as a textual description of the images on a webpage. When search engines crawl a site, they are unable to interpret images in the same way that humans can. Instead, they rely on the alt text to gain insight into what the image represents.

This context is essential for several reasons: it can improve image search rankings, contribute to better indexing of the webpage, and assist in providing relevant content to users. Moreover, alt tags are crucial for accessibility, enabling visually impaired users, who utilize screen readers, to understand the content depicted in an image. Effective use of alt text can therefore yield higher visibility in search results and contribute positively to overall user experience and engagement on the site.