Skip to content

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://friendica/profile/friend"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/Pn5s9uesiAw",
  "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:02Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://friendica/profile/friend"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/MxK-LEL8Z10",
    "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:02Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png"
    }
  }
}
friendica
{
  "id": "30",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:02.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_status": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": "fr",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/MxK-LEL8Z10",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/MxK-LEL8Z10",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "no description",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": {
    "name": "ActivityPub",
    "vapid_key": null
  },
  "account": {
    "id": "5",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:53:48.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "avatar_static": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "header": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "header_static": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "last_status_at": "2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z",
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "9",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://friendica/photo/preview/9",
      "preview_url": "http://friendica/photo/preview/640/9",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "text_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "description": null,
      "blurhash": "|7OL,W?KfQ?KfQ?KfQ?KfQ?Kj[fQj[fQj[fQj[fQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQ?Kj[fQj[fQj[fQj[fQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQ?Kj[fQj[fQj[fQj[fQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQ?Kj[fQj[fQj[fQj[fQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQ",
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "friendica": {
    "title": "",
    "changed_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:02.000Z",
    "commented_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:02.000Z",
    "received_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:02.000Z",
    "delivery_data": {
      "delivery_queue_count": null,
      "delivery_queue_done": null,
      "delivery_queue_failed": null
    },
    "dislikes_count": 0,
    "disliked": false,
    "network": "ActivityPub",
    "platform": "ActivityPub",
    "version": "",
    "sitename": "",
    "visibility": {
      "allow_cid": [],
      "deny_cid": [],
      "allow_gid": [],
      "deny_gid": []
    },
    "content": "no description"
  }
}

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://friendica/profile/friend"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/_4Rwgw6Dp20",
  "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:03Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://friendica/profile/friend"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/SSWYKPIHvoY",
    "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:03Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
friendica
{
  "id": "31",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:03.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_status": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": "gl",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/SSWYKPIHvoY",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/SSWYKPIHvoY",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "text",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": {
    "name": "ActivityPub",
    "vapid_key": null
  },
  "account": {
    "id": "5",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:53:48.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "avatar_static": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "header": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "header_static": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "last_status_at": "2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z",
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "11",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://friendica/photo/preview/11",
      "preview_url": "http://friendica/photo/preview/640/11",
      "remote_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "text_url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "description": "name",
      "blurhash": "|39PItxNfQxNfQxNfQxNfQxNjufQjufQjufQjufQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQxNjufQjufQjufQjufQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQxNjufQjufQjufQjufQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQxNjufQjufQjufQjufQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQfQ",
      "meta": {
        "original": {
          "width": 40,
          "height": 40,
          "size": "40x40",
          "aspect": 1
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "friendica": {
    "title": "",
    "changed_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:03.000Z",
    "commented_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:03.000Z",
    "received_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:03.000Z",
    "delivery_data": {
      "delivery_queue_count": null,
      "delivery_queue_done": null,
      "delivery_queue_failed": null
    },
    "dislikes_count": 0,
    "disliked": false,
    "network": "ActivityPub",
    "platform": "ActivityPub",
    "version": "",
    "sitename": "",
    "visibility": {
      "allow_cid": [],
      "deny_cid": [],
      "allow_gid": [],
      "deny_gid": []
    },
    "content": "text"
  }
}

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://friendica/profile/friend"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/C-oKNBcgkso",
  "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:04Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://friendica/profile/friend"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/I7nYPI3nTHc",
    "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:04Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}
friendica
{
  "id": "32",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:04.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_status": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": "af",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/I7nYPI3nTHc",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/I7nYPI3nTHc",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "text",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": {
    "name": "ActivityPub",
    "vapid_key": null
  },
  "account": {
    "id": "5",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:53:48.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "avatar_static": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "header": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "header_static": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "last_status_at": "2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z",
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "friendica": {
    "title": "",
    "changed_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:05.000Z",
    "commented_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:05.000Z",
    "received_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:05.000Z",
    "delivery_data": {
      "delivery_queue_count": null,
      "delivery_queue_done": null,
      "delivery_queue_failed": null
    },
    "dislikes_count": 0,
    "disliked": false,
    "network": "ActivityPub",
    "platform": "ActivityPub",
    "version": "",
    "sitename": "",
    "visibility": {
      "allow_cid": [],
      "deny_cid": [],
      "allow_gid": [],
      "deny_gid": []
    },
    "content": "text"
  }
}

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://friendica/profile/friend"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/1hQNVBZzgAY",
  "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:06Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://friendica/profile/friend"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/R3bO_PymYLA",
    "published": "2025-08-15T09:57:06Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}
friendica
{
  "id": "33",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:06.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_status": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "visibility": "public",
  "language": "ca",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/R3bO_PymYLA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/R3bO_PymYLA",
  "replies_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "muted": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "content": "no comment in attachment",
  "reblog": null,
  "quote": null,
  "application": {
    "name": "ActivityPub",
    "vapid_key": null
  },
  "account": {
    "id": "5",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "locked": false,
    "bot": false,
    "discoverable": true,
    "group": false,
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T09:53:48.000Z",
    "note": "",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "avatar": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "avatar_static": "http://friendica/photo/contact/320/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "header": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628",
    "header_static": "http://friendica/photo/header/0700725d-72c7be8a-36a431191785fdc7?ts=1755251628&static=1",
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 0,
    "last_status_at": "2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z",
    "emojis": [],
    "fields": []
  },
  "media_attachments": [],
  "mentions": [],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "card": null,
  "poll": null,
  "friendica": {
    "title": "",
    "changed_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:06.000Z",
    "commented_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:06.000Z",
    "received_at": "2025-08-15T09:57:06.000Z",
    "delivery_data": {
      "delivery_queue_count": null,
      "delivery_queue_done": null,
      "delivery_queue_failed": null
    },
    "dislikes_count": 0,
    "disliked": false,
    "network": "ActivityPub",
    "platform": "ActivityPub",
    "version": "",
    "sitename": "",
    "visibility": {
      "allow_cid": [],
      "deny_cid": [],
      "allow_gid": [],
      "deny_gid": []
    },
    "content": "no comment in attachment"
  }
}