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://mitra/users/admin",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/IdgE4Gn5Vns",
  "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:40Z",
  "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/EyjRgUXnccY",
    "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:40Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png"
    }
  }
}

mitra

{
  "id": "0198fc80-e3dc-b242-fc90-84c060e7a957",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/EyjRgUXnccY",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/EyjRgUXnccY",
  "created_at": "2025-08-30T19:42:40.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198fc7e-c86c-4794-ff91-849511c2819a",
    "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": "2025-08-30T19:40:24.044Z",
    "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": 39,
    "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": "0198fc80-e3d9-6a85-d744-bff21ba2290b",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/f393a1b365894b7a851c50d48f09a7398ad7e975f500dc3d388a379682ae5240.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/f393a1b365894b7a851c50d48f09a7398ad7e975f500dc3d388a379682ae5240.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0198fc7d-556c-6206-a6af-7434c71ae20f",
      "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": [
    "http://mitra/users/admin",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/tEv9BjssrV0",
  "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:42Z",
  "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/oSIW25Qmb6I",
    "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:42Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Document",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/100.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}

mitra

{
  "id": "0198fc80-e9c3-72a7-de3d-6e30da76d7fd",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/oSIW25Qmb6I",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/oSIW25Qmb6I",
  "created_at": "2025-08-30T19:42:42.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198fc7e-c86c-4794-ff91-849511c2819a",
    "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": "2025-08-30T19:40:24.044Z",
    "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": 40,
    "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": "0198fc80-e9c0-be27-2621-45839018bea9",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/23d6e68d108ca0fe7fc2fc7ace99ceada218e7a25061e4d5e5be75d5a66c33d2.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/23d6e68d108ca0fe7fc2fc7ace99ceada218e7a25061e4d5e5be75d5a66c33d2.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0198fc7d-556c-6206-a6af-7434c71ae20f",
      "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": [
    "http://mitra/users/admin",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/mChnR5_5qs4",
  "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:44Z",
  "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/3_rOAiq9hSs",
    "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:44Z",
    "content": "text",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}

mitra

{
  "id": "0198fc80-ef9d-7b00-1037-0d4ed7b87de2",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/3_rOAiq9hSs",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/3_rOAiq9hSs",
  "created_at": "2025-08-30T19:42:44.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198fc7e-c86c-4794-ff91-849511c2819a",
    "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": "2025-08-30T19:40:24.044Z",
    "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": 41,
    "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": "0198fc7d-556c-6206-a6af-7434c71ae20f",
      "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": [
    "http://mitra/users/admin",
    "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
  ],
  "id": "http://pasture-one-actor/activity/rC9rpAR2DmI",
  "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:45Z",
  "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/xs77JBA5dU4",
    "published": "2025-08-30T19:42:45Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Document",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}

mitra

{
  "id": "0198fc80-f58d-2ef2-9829-da767435455f",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/xs77JBA5dU4",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/xs77JBA5dU4",
  "created_at": "2025-08-30T19:42:45.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0198fc7e-c86c-4794-ff91-849511c2819a",
    "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": "2025-08-30T19:40:24.044Z",
    "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": 42,
    "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": "0198fc7d-556c-6206-a6af-7434c71ae20f",
      "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": []
}