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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": [
    "http://mastodon/users/hippo",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/gJBTTZiqee0",
  "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:10Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mastodon/users/hippo"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/SXuw0-bcRxI",
    "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:10Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png"
    }
  }
}
mastodon
{
  "id": "114121098614175523",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T12:16:10.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/SXuw0-bcRxI",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/SXuw0-bcRxI",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "edited_at": null,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "no description",
  "filtered": [],
  "reblog": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "114121091169657480",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": false,
    "indexable": false,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T00:00:00.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 33,
    "last_status_at": "2025-03-07",
    "hide_collections": true,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "114121098606954002",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/606/954/002/original/d9da3fc533c6475f.png",
      "preview_url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/606/954/002/small/d9da3fc533c6475f.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "preview_remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1.0
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1.0
        }
      },
      "description": null,
      "blurhash": "U07qZfy?fQy?y?fkfQfkfQfQfQfQy?fkfQfk"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": 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": [
    "http://mastodon/users/hippo",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/I8IGuqTJaU8",
  "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:11Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mastodon/users/hippo"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/zOoy5H5TooA",
    "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:11Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mastodon
{
  "id": "114121098675981874",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T12:16:11.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/zOoy5H5TooA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/zOoy5H5TooA",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "edited_at": null,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "text",
  "filtered": [],
  "reblog": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "114121091169657480",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": false,
    "indexable": false,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T00:00:00.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 34,
    "last_status_at": "2025-03-07",
    "hide_collections": true,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "114121098671015892",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/671/015/892/original/49a255f3ad59c281.png",
      "preview_url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/671/015/892/small/49a255f3ad59c281.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "preview_remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1.0
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1.0
        }
      },
      "description": "summary",
      "blurhash": "U06u@,tnfQtntnfRfQfRfQfQfQfQtnfRfQfR"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": 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": [
    "http://mastodon/users/hippo",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/W5D3jUfloVg",
  "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:12Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mastodon/users/hippo"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/WIAzhW2wrWY",
    "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:12Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mastodon
{
  "id": "114121098745063649",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T12:16:12.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/WIAzhW2wrWY",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/WIAzhW2wrWY",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "edited_at": null,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "text",
  "filtered": [],
  "reblog": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "114121091169657480",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": false,
    "indexable": false,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T00:00:00.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 35,
    "last_status_at": "2025-03-07",
    "hide_collections": true,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "114121098733261183",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/733/261/183/original/a3e5b8758a0d273c.png",
      "preview_url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/733/261/183/small/a3e5b8758a0d273c.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "preview_remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 1548,
          "height": 1548,
          "size": "1548x1548",
          "aspect": 1.0
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 480,
          "height": 480,
          "size": "480x480",
          "aspect": 1.0
        }
      },
      "description": "name",
      "blurhash": "UOEVB2.}4.T=}fjEEVw[4=K[RUw~9,TJV?bW"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": 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": [
    "http://mastodon/users/hippo",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/AI6pdHVe4EM",
  "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:13Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mastodon/users/hippo"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/6JkaCTYd1fo",
    "published": "2025-03-07T12:16:13Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mastodon
{
  "id": "114121098808815243",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T12:16:13.000Z",
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": null,
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/6JkaCTYd1fo",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/6JkaCTYd1fo",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "edited_at": null,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "no comment in attachment",
  "filtered": [],
  "reblog": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "114121091169657480",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": false,
    "indexable": false,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T00:00:00.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "avatar_static": "http://mastodon/avatars/original/missing.png",
    "header": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "header_static": "http://mastodon/headers/original/missing.png",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 36,
    "last_status_at": "2025-03-07",
    "hide_collections": true,
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "114121098797115765",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/797/115/765/original/33d1267c819089fb.png",
      "preview_url": "http://localhost:2970/system/cache/media_attachments/files/114/121/098/797/115/765/small/33d1267c819089fb.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "preview_remote_url": null,
      "text_url": null,
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 1548,
          "height": 1548,
          "size": "1548x1548",
          "aspect": 1.0
        },
        "small": {
          "width": 480,
          "height": 480,
          "size": "480x480",
          "aspect": 1.0
        }
      },
      "description": null,
      "blurhash": "UOEVB2.}4.T=}fjEEVw[4=K[RUw~9,TJV?bW"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null
}