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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/kvAm_Zktypo",
  "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:43Z",
  "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/hEbndkFR_dk",
    "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:43Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/697ef205-71d7-4488-b8a8-3944dd86d660.png"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019a2a81-8e49-51be-6740-75755a1d0aa5",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/hEbndkFR_dk",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/hEbndkFR_dk",
  "created_at": "2025-10-28T11:08:43.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019a2a7f-17ff-0d36-2726-b3d2cd5016df",
    "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": "2025-10-28T11:06:03.646Z",
    "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,
    "discoverable": true,
    "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": "019a2a81-8e45-e5a4-8170-ca5d74589cb8",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/93ce39141bd7dd29b3875f667c6dfc7278dea15402177f3e3583655caddf428f.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/93ce39141bd7dd29b3875f667c6dfc7278dea15402177f3e3583655caddf428f.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019a2a7d-afbb-3557-1da7-96ba62336276",
      "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/PjbIRV3e530",
  "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:45Z",
  "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/VrWfGcxH95M",
    "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:45Z",
    "content": "name, summary and content",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/34512b21-fd72-45c5-a5a2-3a37aba95c20.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019a2a81-9429-ff6c-d23f-42ed88380b0b",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/VrWfGcxH95M",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/VrWfGcxH95M",
  "created_at": "2025-10-28T11:08:45.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019a2a7f-17ff-0d36-2726-b3d2cd5016df",
    "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": "2025-10-28T11:06:03.646Z",
    "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,
    "discoverable": true,
    "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": "019a2a81-9425-7245-e3e7-0bfbf9f8241c",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/1844b25b96d4873de636f2ba1961d6456bad393e6597a51edb8f80ef46d8ab83.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/1844b25b96d4873de636f2ba1961d6456bad393e6597a51edb8f80ef46d8ab83.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019a2a7d-afbb-3557-1da7-96ba62336276",
      "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/5ARyUsMnkUE",
  "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:46Z",
  "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/uPApDV2B8Hs",
    "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:46Z",
    "content": "only name",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Image",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019a2a81-9a37-7f50-c13b-96e4d9f704ba",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/uPApDV2B8Hs",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/uPApDV2B8Hs",
  "created_at": "2025-10-28T11:08:46.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019a2a7f-17ff-0d36-2726-b3d2cd5016df",
    "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": "2025-10-28T11:06:03.646Z",
    "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,
    "discoverable": true,
    "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": "019a2a81-9a30-cd10-7512-52ff69c03fff",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019a2a7d-afbb-3557-1da7-96ba62336276",
      "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/41A3rdKntQ8",
  "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:48Z",
  "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/q4tuguACw-Q",
    "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:48Z",
    "content": "only summary",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/87345665-2423-4ab0-881c-a4bbf338fbe3.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019a2a81-9fdf-7b0a-19cb-6cfd66639b8e",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/q4tuguACw-Q",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/q4tuguACw-Q",
  "created_at": "2025-10-28T11:08:48.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019a2a7f-17ff-0d36-2726-b3d2cd5016df",
    "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": "2025-10-28T11:06:03.646Z",
    "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,
    "discoverable": true,
    "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": "019a2a81-9fda-2143-8155-f7fe27ccdbca",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/112e3ab58dac23854ae04269a365532748bc7c28191be270d13c2f66b9247550.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/112e3ab58dac23854ae04269a365532748bc7c28191be270d13c2f66b9247550.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019a2a7d-afbb-3557-1da7-96ba62336276",
      "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/PiH_UR9QUcg",
  "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:50Z",
  "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/UqfgjlXrZNA",
    "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:50Z",
    "content": "only content",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/d570fe5e-be98-468e-b36e-53aa4ef8ddd7.png",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019a2a81-a5ae-4445-4af0-bd39cbab26da",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/UqfgjlXrZNA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/UqfgjlXrZNA",
  "created_at": "2025-10-28T11:08:50.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019a2a7f-17ff-0d36-2726-b3d2cd5016df",
    "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": "2025-10-28T11:06:03.646Z",
    "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,
    "discoverable": true,
    "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": "019a2a81-a5ab-a1c4-450b-b74d1b6360cc",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/63dcd90e98918c6aff2e4ff42e8167cf971855b41c73fd3fb6c804ff0ef13004.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/63dcd90e98918c6aff2e4ff42e8167cf971855b41c73fd3fb6c804ff0ef13004.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019a2a7d-afbb-3557-1da7-96ba62336276",
      "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/dBGVVMyFVLo",
  "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:51Z",
  "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/8GNWfRwewEY",
    "published": "2025-10-28T11:08:51Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment; reused image",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Image",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019a2a81-abc9-9e7f-91bf-a10b718049de",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/8GNWfRwewEY",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/8GNWfRwewEY",
  "created_at": "2025-10-28T11:08:51.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019a2a7f-17ff-0d36-2726-b3d2cd5016df",
    "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": "2025-10-28T11:06:03.646Z",
    "note": "",
    "avatar": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon?input=http://pasture-one-actor/actor",
    "header": "http://mitra/api/v1/accounts/identicon",
    "locked": false,
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