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. 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/9kN6zXNwtX0",
  "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:50Z",
  "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/F7nqM9nKMMg",
    "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:50Z",
    "content": "no description",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/a4f3ebae-17f0-40d6-991a-0f4fac4483d4.png"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019aa6c4-9278-2b1f-2a3b-bd213554e27f",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/F7nqM9nKMMg",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/F7nqM9nKMMg",
  "created_at": "2025-11-21T14:14:50.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019aa6c2-1ffd-aa0d-ee0c-cce05fc8f170",
    "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": "2025-11-21T14:12:11.389Z",
    "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": "019aa6c4-9274-423f-b0b4-46dfc3f72758",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/9f0f82db9c26b3f30aaba5de78ea082ef2e2cb1f8b0a560f91f7fd0b1bc290d9.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/9f0f82db9c26b3f30aaba5de78ea082ef2e2cb1f8b0a560f91f7fd0b1bc290d9.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019aa6c0-e4be-204c-88e2-876d15258046",
      "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/FD22EobOrH0",
  "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:52Z",
  "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/Lan0fP4nRPM",
    "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:52Z",
    "content": "name, summary and content",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/a145a424-351a-45e1-9e0a-526a114e4508.png",
      "name": "name",
      "summary": "summary",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019aa6c4-985b-6b78-8859-c8e476b85fb3",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/Lan0fP4nRPM",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/Lan0fP4nRPM",
  "created_at": "2025-11-21T14:14:52.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019aa6c2-1ffd-aa0d-ee0c-cce05fc8f170",
    "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": "2025-11-21T14:12:11.389Z",
    "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": "019aa6c4-9857-edb1-a17d-eacd8675138f",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/2c23daaebc25c117f17c79fac7996b0d0bc9ef6927287860b8dfb9a047c80992.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/2c23daaebc25c117f17c79fac7996b0d0bc9ef6927287860b8dfb9a047c80992.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019aa6c0-e4be-204c-88e2-876d15258046",
      "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/ppD-B34aWHc",
  "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:53Z",
  "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/gOnhFkJ3yrE",
    "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:53Z",
    "content": "only name",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Image",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png",
        "name": "name",
        "imageType": "image/jpeg"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019aa6c4-9e67-4a97-1638-dd04e89d5bdc",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/gOnhFkJ3yrE",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/gOnhFkJ3yrE",
  "created_at": "2025-11-21T14:14:53.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019aa6c2-1ffd-aa0d-ee0c-cce05fc8f170",
    "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": "2025-11-21T14:12:11.389Z",
    "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": "019aa6c4-9e62-6de1-44c2-0567c8900c2c",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "description": "name"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019aa6c0-e4be-204c-88e2-876d15258046",
      "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/OdUqTkfU-XE",
  "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:55Z",
  "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/7lfWpEmSBoA",
    "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:55Z",
    "content": "only summary",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/5aeed9fd-13b2-4da4-a814-e3036625bd7d.png",
      "summary": "summary"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019aa6c4-a42e-4eaf-c07a-b48fbd01b95d",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/7lfWpEmSBoA",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/7lfWpEmSBoA",
  "created_at": "2025-11-21T14:14:55.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019aa6c2-1ffd-aa0d-ee0c-cce05fc8f170",
    "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": "2025-11-21T14:12:11.389Z",
    "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": "019aa6c4-a428-133a-41da-599127adca76",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/169acab48917ca651f39a264cc5524e1e858004187deed6ca1e3d5338b29b689.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/169acab48917ca651f39a264cc5524e1e858004187deed6ca1e3d5338b29b689.png",
      "description": "summary"
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019aa6c0-e4be-204c-88e2-876d15258046",
      "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/s6mOkY2ZZUA",
  "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:56Z",
  "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/_CSMPr-aP3o",
    "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:56Z",
    "content": "only content",
    "attachment": {
      "type": "Image",
      "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/images/8d242851-3945-4e7e-a7a5-f19c809fa808.png",
      "content": "content"
    }
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019aa6c4-a9e8-bb2e-5878-356b1e014494",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/_CSMPr-aP3o",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/_CSMPr-aP3o",
  "created_at": "2025-11-21T14:14:56.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019aa6c2-1ffd-aa0d-ee0c-cce05fc8f170",
    "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": "2025-11-21T14:12:11.389Z",
    "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": "019aa6c4-a9e5-5da8-5650-eddcb452855a",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/4135b4c97c03c626b561cf464a16cb59a8055bdb01d0a520621c7e6908b0123f.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/4135b4c97c03c626b561cf464a16cb59a8055bdb01d0a520621c7e6908b0123f.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019aa6c0-e4be-204c-88e2-876d15258046",
      "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/So5ISRRFCd0",
  "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:58Z",
  "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/UpcBayoDs2U",
    "published": "2025-11-21T14:14:58Z",
    "content": "no comment in attachment; reused image",
    "attachment": [
      {
        "type": "Image",
        "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/assets/FediverseLogo.png"
      }
    ]
  }
}
mitra
{
  "id": "019aa6c4-afc8-cee4-8fb1-70e17ddd71cf",
  "uri": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/UpcBayoDs2U",
  "url": "http://pasture-one-actor/object/UpcBayoDs2U",
  "created_at": "2025-11-21T14:14:58.000Z",
  "edited_at": null,
  "account": {
    "id": "019aa6c2-1ffd-aa0d-ee0c-cce05fc8f170",
    "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": "2025-11-21T14:12:11.389Z",
    "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": 76,
    "source": null,
    "role": null,
    "authentication_methods": null,
    "client_config": null
  },
  "content": "no comment in attachment; reused image",
  "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": "019aa6c4-afc5-c47b-e207-70e014ed512f",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "preview_url": "http://mitra/media/2d7a61d31393a44edf2a30160cdd70b3582a4f97d5b550f8141dfee1641b4ae7.png",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "quote": null,
  "mentions": [
    {
      "id": "019aa6c0-e4be-204c-88e2-876d15258046",
      "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": []
}