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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": [
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
    "http://mitra/users/admin"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/9KoE93mx7Qw",
  "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:31Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mitra/users/admin"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/JqTGPlu-YvA",
    "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:31Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0198ad58-74a2-b512-d4de-faf2c038bed2",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/JqTGPlu-YvA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/JqTGPlu-YvA",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:48:31.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198ad56-9bd5-1de6-898f-6df23ed47fb2",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "actor_id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:46:31.125Z",
    "note": "",
    "avatar": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon?input=http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "header": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon",
    "locked": false,
    "mention_policy": "none",
    "bot": false,
    "identity_proofs": [],
    "payment_options": [],
    "fields": [],
    "emojis": [],
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "subscribers_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 28,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "no description",
  "language": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "visibility": "public",
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "pinned": false,
  "replies_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "poll": null,
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "0198ad58-749a-6a8d-bcfe-a2b25064a8e4",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/257581a769ad257dd439d056c9b7e9f4790c747891ed0e78d5bc7b08db55dc4e.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/257581a769ad257dd439d056c9b7e9f4790c747891ed0e78d5bc7b08db55dc4e.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0198ad55-5d39-6fdb-9363-faa4fbe4b90f",
      "username": "admin",
      "acct": "admin",
      "url": "http://mitra/users/admin"
    }
  ],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pleroma": {
    "emoji_reactions": [],
    "in_reply_to_account_acct": null,
    "parent_visible": true,
    "quote": null,
    "quote_visible": true
  },
  "hidden": false,
  "ipfs_cid": null,
  "links": []
}

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://mitra/users/admin"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/Z_gfXXAxW9c",
  "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:32Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mitra/users/admin"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/E5fGb0dbzlU",
    "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:32Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0198ad58-7a7d-c96f-6efb-27d936582116",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/E5fGb0dbzlU",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/E5fGb0dbzlU",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:48:32.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198ad56-9bd5-1de6-898f-6df23ed47fb2",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "actor_id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:46:31.125Z",
    "note": "",
    "avatar": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon?input=http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "header": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon",
    "locked": false,
    "mention_policy": "none",
    "bot": false,
    "identity_proofs": [],
    "payment_options": [],
    "fields": [],
    "emojis": [],
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "subscribers_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 29,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "text",
  "language": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "visibility": "public",
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "pinned": false,
  "replies_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "poll": null,
  "media_attachments": [
    {
      "id": "0198ad58-7a76-1856-4ddc-4f6fa4ebae87",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/71afc8a5a705880538e7cafe961a65d0e68013cfe40fb233ee3f140cc0eff2f0.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/71afc8a5a705880538e7cafe961a65d0e68013cfe40fb233ee3f140cc0eff2f0.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0198ad55-5d39-6fdb-9363-faa4fbe4b90f",
      "username": "admin",
      "acct": "admin",
      "url": "http://mitra/users/admin"
    }
  ],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pleroma": {
    "emoji_reactions": [],
    "in_reply_to_account_acct": null,
    "parent_visible": true,
    "quote": null,
    "quote_visible": true
  },
  "hidden": false,
  "ipfs_cid": null,
  "links": []
}

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://mitra/users/admin"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/pLvwFk405VM",
  "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:33Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mitra/users/admin"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/nPVx4wdGB8Y",
    "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:33Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0198ad58-804f-3e0c-7b33-8cc020f93ade",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/nPVx4wdGB8Y",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/nPVx4wdGB8Y",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:48:33.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198ad56-9bd5-1de6-898f-6df23ed47fb2",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "actor_id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:46:31.125Z",
    "note": "",
    "avatar": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon?input=http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "header": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon",
    "locked": false,
    "mention_policy": "none",
    "bot": false,
    "identity_proofs": [],
    "payment_options": [],
    "fields": [],
    "emojis": [],
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "subscribers_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 30,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "text<p><a href=\"http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png\" rel=\"noopener\">http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png</a></p>",
  "language": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "visibility": "public",
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "pinned": false,
  "replies_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "poll": null,
  "media_attachments": [],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0198ad55-5d39-6fdb-9363-faa4fbe4b90f",
      "username": "admin",
      "acct": "admin",
      "url": "http://mitra/users/admin"
    }
  ],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pleroma": {
    "emoji_reactions": [],
    "in_reply_to_account_acct": null,
    "parent_visible": true,
    "quote": null,
    "quote_visible": true
  },
  "hidden": false,
  "ipfs_cid": null,
  "links": []
}

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://mitra/users/admin"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/7dbDlosfMuQ",
  "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:35Z",
  "object": {
    "type": "Note",
    "attributedTo": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "to": [
      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public",
      "http://mitra/users/admin"
    ],
    "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/9fLAJHSpMAM",
    "published": "2025-08-15T10:48:35Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0198ad58-8638-f1d9-4cf1-e68b3d81612b",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/9fLAJHSpMAM",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/9fLAJHSpMAM",
  "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:48:35.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198ad56-9bd5-1de6-898f-6df23ed47fb2",
    "username": "actor",
    "acct": "actor@pasture-one-actor",
    "actor_id": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "display_name": "Test Actor",
    "created_at": "2025-08-15T10:46:31.125Z",
    "note": "",
    "avatar": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon?input=http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "header": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon",
    "locked": false,
    "mention_policy": "none",
    "bot": false,
    "identity_proofs": [],
    "payment_options": [],
    "fields": [],
    "emojis": [],
    "followers_count": 0,
    "following_count": 0,
    "subscribers_count": 0,
    "statuses_count": 31,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "no comment in attachment<p><a href=\"http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png\" rel=\"noopener\">http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png</a></p>",
  "language": null,
  "in_reply_to_id": null,
  "in_reply_to_account_id": null,
  "reblog": null,
  "visibility": "public",
  "sensitive": false,
  "spoiler_text": "",
  "pinned": false,
  "replies_count": 0,
  "favourites_count": 0,
  "reblogs_count": 0,
  "poll": null,
  "media_attachments": [],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0198ad55-5d39-6fdb-9363-faa4fbe4b90f",
      "username": "admin",
      "acct": "admin",
      "url": "http://mitra/users/admin"
    }
  ],
  "tags": [],
  "emojis": [],
  "favourited": false,
  "reblogged": false,
  "bookmarked": false,
  "pleroma": {
    "emoji_reactions": [],
    "in_reply_to_account_acct": null,
    "parent_visible": true,
    "quote": null,
    "quote_visible": true
  },
  "hidden": false,
  "ipfs_cid": null,
  "links": []
}