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://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/tu5RZ4p6Oio",
  "published": "2025-03-07T13:48:58Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/3ZjOSYSgdoA",
    "published": "2025-03-07T13:48:58Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png"
    }
  }
}

sharkey

{
  "id": "a52ebjf4e2tn0018",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/3ZjOSYSgdoA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/3ZjOSYSgdoA",
  "account": {
    "id": "a52ea999e2tn0002",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "fqn": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:47:58.173Z",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 33,
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "avatar_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "header": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "header_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "emojis": [],
    "moved": null,
    "fields": [],
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "noindex": false,
    "group": null,
    "suspended": false,
    "limited": false
  },
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "content": "<p><span>no description</span></p>",
  "content_type": "text/x.misskeymarkdown",
  "text": "no description",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:48:58.000Z",
  "emojis": [],
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogged": false,
  "favourited": false,
  "muted": false,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "a52ebjrze2tn0017",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "text_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "meta": {
        "width": 40,
        "height": 40,
        "original": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1,
          "frame_rate": "undefined"
        },
        "size": "40x40",
        "aspect": 1
      },
      "description": null,
      "blurhash": "e3QhkX}YfQ}YfQ}YjtfQjtfQfQfQfQfQfQ}YjtfQjtfQfQfQfQfQfQ"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "application": null,
  "language": null,
  "pinned": false,
  "reactions": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "bookmarked": false,
  "quote": null,
  "edited_at": 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://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/aV_QGzhteAU",
  "published": "2025-03-07T13:48:59Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/D_mCatJoe-w",
    "published": "2025-03-07T13:48:59Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}

sharkey

{
  "id": "a52ebk6we2tn001a",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/D_mCatJoe-w",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/D_mCatJoe-w",
  "account": {
    "id": "a52ea999e2tn0002",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "fqn": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:47:58.173Z",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 34,
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "avatar_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "header": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "header_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "emojis": [],
    "moved": null,
    "fields": [],
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "noindex": false,
    "group": null,
    "suspended": false,
    "limited": false
  },
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "content": "<p><span>text</span></p>",
  "content_type": "text/x.misskeymarkdown",
  "text": "text",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:48:59.000Z",
  "emojis": [],
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogged": false,
  "favourited": false,
  "muted": false,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "a52ebkdme2tn0019",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "text_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "meta": {
        "width": 40,
        "height": 40,
        "original": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1,
          "frame_rate": "undefined"
        },
        "size": "40x40",
        "aspect": 1
      },
      "description": "name",
      "blurhash": "e0DOt]|wfQ|wfQ|wjtfQjtfQfQfQfQfQfQ|wjtfQjtfQfQfQfQfQfQ"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "application": null,
  "language": null,
  "pinned": false,
  "reactions": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "bookmarked": false,
  "quote": null,
  "edited_at": 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://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/V8EyclVNrFA",
  "published": "2025-03-07T13:48:59Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/jYMD1NYienM",
    "published": "2025-03-07T13:48:59Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}

sharkey

{
  "id": "a52ebk6we2tn001c",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/jYMD1NYienM",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/jYMD1NYienM",
  "account": {
    "id": "a52ea999e2tn0002",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "fqn": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:47:58.173Z",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 35,
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "avatar_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "header": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "header_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "emojis": [],
    "moved": null,
    "fields": [],
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "noindex": false,
    "group": null,
    "suspended": false,
    "limited": false
  },
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "content": "<p><span>text</span></p>",
  "content_type": "text/x.misskeymarkdown",
  "text": "text",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:48:59.000Z",
  "emojis": [],
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogged": false,
  "favourited": false,
  "muted": false,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "a52ebl1ae2tn001b",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "text_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "meta": {
        "width": 1548,
        "height": 1548,
        "original": {
          "width": 1548,
          "height": 1548,
          "size": "1548x1548",
          "aspect": 1,
          "frame_rate": "undefined"
        },
        "size": "1548x1548",
        "aspect": 1
      },
      "description": "name",
      "blurhash": "eQE_?c.}4.YJM^}fi{EVw[xu9JK[M~xI-T9+TJRPX2$$E]NFo}j1tO"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "application": null,
  "language": null,
  "pinned": false,
  "reactions": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "bookmarked": false,
  "quote": null,
  "edited_at": 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://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/2ItcJx7CGwU",
  "published": "2025-03-07T13:49:00Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://sharkey/users/a52e8ostm0s60001"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/hdwgizlYwNA",
    "published": "2025-03-07T13:49:00Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}

sharkey

{
  "id": "a52ebkyoe2tn001d",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/hdwgizlYwNA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor/hdwgizlYwNA",
  "account": {
    "id": "a52ea999e2tn0002",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "fqn": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:47:58.173Z",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 36,
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "avatar_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/avatar.png",
    "header": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "header_static": "https://dev.joinsharkey.org/static-assets/transparent.png",
    "emojis": [],
    "moved": null,
    "fields": [],
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "noindex": false,
    "group": null,
    "suspended": false,
    "limited": false
  },
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "content": "<p><span>no comment in attachment</span></p>",
  "content_type": "text/x.misskeymarkdown",
  "text": "no comment in attachment",
  "created_at": "2025-03-07T13:49:00.000Z",
  "emojis": [],
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogged": false,
  "favourited": false,
  "muted": false,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "a52ebl1ae2tn001b",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "preview_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "text_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
      "meta": {
        "width": 1548,
        "height": 1548,
        "original": {
          "width": 1548,
          "height": 1548,
          "size": "1548x1548",
          "aspect": 1,
          "frame_rate": "undefined"
        },
        "size": "1548x1548",
        "aspect": 1
      },
      "description": "name",
      "blurhash": "eQE_?c.}4.YJM^}fi{EVw[xu9JK[M~xI-T9+TJRPX2$$E]NFo}j1tO"
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "application": null,
  "language": null,
  "pinned": false,
  "reactions": [],
  "emoji_reactions": [],
  "bookmarked": false,
  "quote": null,
  "edited_at": null
}