Can alt tags be added to background images in Webflow for SEO optimization?

Background images in Webflow do not support alt tags, which means they cannot be directly optimized for SEO using standard alternative text.

1. Why Alt Tags Don’t Apply to Background Images

• Alt attributes are only applicable to <img> HTML elements, not CSS background images.
• Webflow renders background images using CSS, so there's no <img> element where an alt attribute could go.

2. How to Improve SEO with Images in Webflow

• If an image is important for SEO or accessibility, use an Image element instead of a background image.
• The Image element in Webflow lets you add an alt tag directly in the settings panel.
• If visual layout demands a background image, consider replacing it with an Image inside a positioned div that achieves a similar design effect.

3. Accessibility Considerations

• Background images are invisible to screen readers, which rely on alt text for image descriptions.
• For important visual content (e.g., diagrams, infographics), use semantic HTML with image alt tags to support accessibility standards.

4. Design Workarounds

• When layout constraints require background-style images, but SEO is still a goal:
• Overlay a hidden image tag (with display: none) that includes the original image and alt text—but this is not best practice and may be penalized if misused.
• Use aria-label or descriptive text in surrounding elements to convey context, but these don’t improve image search visibility.

Summary

Alt tags cannot be added to background images in Webflow because they are applied via CSS, not standard image elements. For SEO and accessibility, always use an Image element with proper alt text if the image content is important.