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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. misskey, 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/5hJiZTP3Frs",
  "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:52Z",
  "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/Fq_OacAaXTM",
    "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:52Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/bab0c3cd-c97a-4569-a6e0-6de41e29b98d.png"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0199afcc-1bfe-47aa-f2b5-85e58c9c8f31",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/Fq_OacAaXTM",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/Fq_OacAaXTM",
  "created_at": "2025-10-04T15:16:52.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0199afc9-ae4e-04cd-2b42-9cd0d025cd92",
    "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": "2025-10-04T15:14:14.222Z",
    "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": 71,
    "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": "0199afcc-1bfb-41e2-8b2b-7411715d7cd0",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/97d6192f545d418a4eb71872b1a00fe090c397122c7698b0b449449db6391735.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/97d6192f545d418a4eb71872b1a00fe090c397122c7698b0b449449db6391735.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0199afc8-6e49-a175-e817-c99beef88df8",
      "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/sUaPFhNuG_c",
  "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:53Z",
  "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/jhNFLXco-us",
    "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:53Z",
    "content": "name, summary and content",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/1d04aff4-47ed-4415-8bee-659a6468e5e4.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0199afcc-21f8-5882-5fa1-78d73b9c3341",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/jhNFLXco-us",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/jhNFLXco-us",
  "created_at": "2025-10-04T15:16:53.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0199afc9-ae4e-04cd-2b42-9cd0d025cd92",
    "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": "2025-10-04T15:14:14.222Z",
    "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": 72,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "name, summary and content",
  "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": "0199afcc-21f2-16e3-ef1b-945e44898fe2",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/c56193eb43f0fe8c2224914f3557be82e3b23aa39bddef91b9a0e869ac7e66d6.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/c56193eb43f0fe8c2224914f3557be82e3b23aa39bddef91b9a0e869ac7e66d6.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0199afc8-6e49-a175-e817-c99beef88df8",
      "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/2MU6__uCbjE",
  "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:55Z",
  "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/eRZycFliD5Q",
    "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:55Z",
    "content": "only name",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Image",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0199afcc-27f0-e62d-4bec-1911e6081f3b",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/eRZycFliD5Q",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/eRZycFliD5Q",
  "created_at": "2025-10-04T15:16:55.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0199afc9-ae4e-04cd-2b42-9cd0d025cd92",
    "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": "2025-10-04T15:14:14.222Z",
    "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": 73,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "only name",
  "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": "0199afcc-27ea-7f4f-307c-9fa72287c2cd",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0199afc8-6e49-a175-e817-c99beef88df8",
      "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/Z3h6bjVh98E",
  "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:56Z",
  "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/vktZZbuqxLY",
    "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:56Z",
    "content": "only summary",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/9a07a7e9-1708-4f66-b66c-baaf1140dd13.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0199afcc-2d92-af94-72c3-fedfbcb3d305",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/vktZZbuqxLY",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/vktZZbuqxLY",
  "created_at": "2025-10-04T15:16:56.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0199afc9-ae4e-04cd-2b42-9cd0d025cd92",
    "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": "2025-10-04T15:14:14.222Z",
    "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": 74,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "only summary",
  "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": "0199afcc-2d8e-2d62-f640-594ade3c3acd",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/d7acf567fa338656d2e1c46f415a3e2786210627960ed31f847162f3b5ee9225.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/d7acf567fa338656d2e1c46f415a3e2786210627960ed31f847162f3b5ee9225.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0199afc8-6e49-a175-e817-c99beef88df8",
      "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 5

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/8_0MWF1QjpE",
  "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:58Z",
  "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/0JPc7DNQLcc",
    "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:58Z",
    "content": "only content",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/0821d9ea-4926-4019-8225-b97ce420ac2d.png",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0199afcc-337a-0ae4-8932-8dfab10f949e",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/0JPc7DNQLcc",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/0JPc7DNQLcc",
  "created_at": "2025-10-04T15:16:58.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0199afc9-ae4e-04cd-2b42-9cd0d025cd92",
    "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": "2025-10-04T15:14:14.222Z",
    "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": 75,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "only content",
  "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": "0199afcc-3375-ec74-acda-ff3f21d80c64",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/6b4be36cde0aa59834cfaee64f6cdd0ce21727fdbca5a9b316f52f4acd1224da.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/6b4be36cde0aa59834cfaee64f6cdd0ce21727fdbca5a9b316f52f4acd1224da.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "0199afc8-6e49-a175-e817-c99beef88df8",
      "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 6

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/X_ik-YPpVVE",
  "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:59Z",
  "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/ghpVLSuLRAE",
    "published": "2025-10-04T15:16:59Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment; reused image",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Image",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "0199afcc-3957-7173-2045-4d5304dabe6b",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/ghpVLSuLRAE",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/ghpVLSuLRAE",
  "created_at": "2025-10-04T15:16:59.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "0199afc9-ae4e-04cd-2b42-9cd0d025cd92",
    "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": "2025-10-04T15:14:14.222Z",
    "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": [],
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