imagecaption

An image caption is a short description or explanation that accompanies an image. It identifies the subject, provides context, and may include details such as date, location, source, or photographer credit. Captions help readers understand what is shown and why it matters, and they can stand alone when an image cannot be viewed.

In HTML and other digital formats, captions are often implemented with the figure element and a figcaption, which pairs the image with its caption. For accessibility, captions should supplement the alt attribute rather than replace it. Screen readers can read both the alternative text and the visible caption; the caption should not rely on color or layout alone.

Caption types include descriptive captions that describe what is visible, contextual captions that explain significance for the article, and credit captions that identify the source or photographer. Caption blocks may be multilingual in international publications and may include licensing information or disclaimers.

Best practices include writing clearly and concisely, identifying the subject, providing essential context, and avoiding speculation or subjective judgments. Verify factual details such as date and location, and credit sources per copyright requirements. In media workflows, captions should be synchronized with content and stored with the image’s metadata.

See also: figure element, figcaption, alt text, accessibility.