Image Description

The Image type is defined in ActivityStreams Vocabulary.

In this support table, we only consider how the image description, commonly called AltText is handled. Image descriptions are important from an accessibility standpoint, see WCAG 2.2. Text Alternatives.

It seems that certain implementations, e.g. firefish, store the image description on a per image URL basis and not for every instance of an image reference.

Examples

Example 1

activity

{
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
    {
      "Hashtag": "as:Hashtag",
      "sensitive": "as:sensitive"
    }
  ],
  "type": "Create",
  "actor": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
  "to": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
    "http://hollo/@john"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/-MRFc6MYbwo",
  "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:55Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://hollo/@john"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/qVC4ZBcicJc",
    "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:55Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png"
    },
    "tag": [
      {
        "type": "Mention",
        "href": "http://gotosocial/users/cookie"
      }
    ]
  }
}

hollo

{
  "id": "019623dc-cc78-71eb-a8be-86ce0d02cc13",
  "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:55.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/qVC4ZBcicJc",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/qVC4ZBcicJc",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pinned": false,
  "content": "no description",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote_id": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019623dc-0c77-763e-bc36-50ff63e899ac",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:05.774Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "moved": null,
    "last_status_at": null,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "019623dc-cfd2-7deb-8b08-67b154627452",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "focus": {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 0
        }
      },
      "description": null,
      "blurhash": null
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "emojis": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "poll": null,
  "filtered": null
}

Example 2

activity

{
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
    {
      "Hashtag": "as:Hashtag",
      "sensitive": "as:sensitive"
    }
  ],
  "type": "Create",
  "actor": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
  "to": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
    "http://hollo/@john"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/DXKyLcT63w4",
  "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:56Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://hollo/@john"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/D-0QpwCbmB8",
    "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:56Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    },
    "tag": [
      {
        "type": "Mention",
        "href": "http://gotosocial/users/cookie"
      }
    ]
  }
}

hollo

{
  "id": "019623dc-d060-75c6-9b0b-08e23c580273",
  "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:56.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/D-0QpwCbmB8",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/D-0QpwCbmB8",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pinned": false,
  "content": "text",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote_id": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019623dc-0c77-763e-bc36-50ff63e899ac",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:05.774Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "moved": null,
    "last_status_at": null,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "019623dc-d2c3-7a0b-82dd-e8bd1cacc256",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "focus": {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 0
        }
      },
      "description": "summary",
      "blurhash": null
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "emojis": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "poll": null,
  "filtered": null
}

Example 3

activity

{
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
    {
      "Hashtag": "as:Hashtag",
      "sensitive": "as:sensitive"
    }
  ],
  "type": "Create",
  "actor": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
  "to": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
    "http://hollo/@john"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/1RTETFJ8gzU",
  "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:57Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://hollo/@john"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/LRp_y0znvwQ",
    "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:57Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ],
    "tag": [
      {
        "type": "Mention",
        "href": "http://gotosocial/users/cookie"
      }
    ]
  }
}

hollo

{
  "id": "019623dc-d448-723e-8e9d-beea93755b1c",
  "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:57.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/LRp_y0znvwQ",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/LRp_y0znvwQ",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pinned": false,
  "content": "text",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote_id": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019623dc-0c77-763e-bc36-50ff63e899ac",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:05.774Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "moved": null,
    "last_status_at": null,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "019623dc-d5cc-7aee-9321-09a62aff23ac",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "focus": {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 0
        }
      },
      "description": "name",
      "blurhash": null
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "emojis": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "poll": null,
  "filtered": null
}

Example 4

activity

{
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
    {
      "Hashtag": "as:Hashtag",
      "sensitive": "as:sensitive"
    }
  ],
  "type": "Create",
  "actor": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
  "to": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
    "http://hollo/@john"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/OwcKKEBJqz0",
  "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:58Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://hollo/@john"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/RNRneQHSuYA",
    "published": "2025-04-11T07:59:58Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ],
    "tag": [
      {
        "type": "Mention",
        "href": "http://gotosocial/users/cookie"
      }
    ]
  }
}

hollo

{
  "id": "019623dc-d830-75ba-90e5-d1cefa4e50ee",
  "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:58.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/RNRneQHSuYA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/RNRneQHSuYA",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pinned": false,
  "content": "no comment in attachment",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote_id": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019623dc-0c77-763e-bc36-50ff63e899ac",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "created_at": "2025-04-11T07:59:05.774Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://hollo/image/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://hollo/image/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "moved": null,
    "last_status_at": null,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "019623dc-db10-7a8e-8794-28eb376eac49",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 512,
          "height": 512,
          "size": "512x512",
          "aspect": 1
        },
        "focus": {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 0
        }
      },
      "description": null,
      "blurhash": null
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "emojis": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "poll": null,
  "filtered": null
}