Editing HTML element (section)

===<code>longdesc</code> attribute===
In [[HTML]], '''<code>longdesc</code>''' is an attribute used within the {{tag|img|s}}, {{tag|frame|s}}, or {{tag|iframe|o}} elements. It is supposed to be a [[URL]]{{refn|group=note|Strictly an [[Internationalized resource identifier|IRI]], not a URL; although URLs are a subset of IRIs.}} to a document that provides a '''long description''' for the image, frame, or iframe in question.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/struct/objects.html|title=Objects, Images, and Applets|publisher=W3C|access-date=2008-12-20}}</ref> This attribute should contain a URL, {{em|not}} – as is commonly mistaken – the text of the description itself.

<code>longdesc</code> was designed to be used by [[screen reader]]s to display image information for computer users with [[accessibility]] issues, such as the blind or [[Visual_impairment |visually impaired]], and is widely implemented by both web browsers and screen readers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w3.org/html/wg/wiki/ChangeProposals/InstateLongdesc/Implementation|title=InState Longdesc|access-date=2011-09-05}}</ref> Some developers object that<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webaim.org/techniques/images/longdesc.php#longdesc|title=Creating Accessible Images|publisher=WebAim|access-date=2008-12-20}}</ref> it is actually seldom used for this purpose because there are relatively few authors who use the attribute and most of those authors use it incorrectly; thus, they recommend deprecating <code>longdesc</code>.<ref>{{citation|url=http://wiki.whatwg.org/wiki/Longdesc_usage |title=Longdesc usage - WHATWG Wiki |publisher=Wiki.whatwg.org |access-date=2012-03-26}}</ref> The publishing industry has responded, advocating the retention of <code>longdesc</code>.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=13461|title=Bug 13461 - Commentary on Issue #30 (longdesc) from the Association of American Publishers |access-date=2011-09-05}}</ref>

====Example====
<syntaxhighlight lang="html">
<img src="Hello.jpg" longdesc="description.html">
</syntaxhighlight>
<br />Content of <code>description.html</code>:
<syntaxhighlight lang="html">
<br />
<p>This is an image of a two-layered birthday cake.</p>
...
</syntaxhighlight>

====Linking to the long description in the text====
Since very few graphical browsers support making the link available natively (Opera and iCab being the exceptions), it is useful to include a link to the description page near the {{tag|img|s}} element whenever possible, as this can also aid sighted users.

=====Example=====
<syntaxhighlight lang="html">
<img src="Hello.jpg" longdesc="description.html" /> [<a href=
"description.html" title="long description of the image">D</a>]
</syntaxhighlight>