Accessibility

AIP Publishing is committed to making its digital content accessible to all readers, regardless of ability or technology. As part of this commitment, we adhere to recognized accessibility standards, following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1AA).These guidelines provide internationally recognized framework for making digital content more accessible.

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Accessible Scholarly Content

As part of our accessibility program, AIP Publishing has implemented workflows and content standards to support accessible scholarly publishing.

These measures include:

  • Requiring alternative text (alt text) descriptions for figures and tables in published articles
  • Supporting structured article formats and metadata that facilitate the use of assistive technologies
  • Ensuring article content is compatible with screen readers and other accessibility tools
  • Providing guidance to authors on preparing accessible visual content

Alt text allows readers using assistive technologies to understand the essential information conveyed by figures, charts, diagrams, tables, and other visual elements in scholarly articles. Authors are responsible for providing accurate alt text descriptions as part of the publication process.

Platform Accessibility

AIP Publishing works with platform providers and technology partners to continuously improve accessibility across its publishing platform and user interface. Areas of enhancement may include:

  • Navigation structure and heading hierarchy
  • Link labeling and descriptive text
  • Form fields and interactive elements
  • Page structure and landmark regions
  • Compatibility with assistive technologies

Accessibility testing and remediation are conducted regularly as part of ongoing platform development.

Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing effort. AIP Publishing regularly reviews evolving standards and incorporates improvements into its publishing workflows and digital platforms.

Current areas of focus include:

  • Enhancing author guidance for accessible content
  • Expanding accessibility testing across platforms
  • Improving the accessibility of newly published scholarly content
  • Identifying opportunities to improve the accessibility of legacy content where feasible

Feedback and Assistance

AIP Publishing welcomes feedback on the accessibility of our website and published content. If you encounter accessibility barriers or have questions, please contact us at accessibility@aip.org.

When reaching out, include the page URL or article DOI where the issue occurred so we can investigate and respond as quickly as possible.

For Authors – What is Accessible Content?

Alt Text FAQs

What is alt text?
Alt text (alternative text) is a brief, textual description associated with an image, video, or multi-media file used to convey key information about the file’s visual content. Alt text is the textual equivalent of an image, making visual content decipherable for screen readers and other important accessibility tools. Including alt text connects your research to a wider audience by making it accessible to readers with visual impairments, reading disabilities, and many other conditions.

When is alt text required?
Alt text is required for all visual content on digital platforms. This includes figures, graphics, diagrams, schemes, charts, illustrations, photos, time lapses, and videos.

What is the difference between alt text and figure captions?
While figure captions are useful for highlighting key results and making visual connections to support an article’s content, alt text is intended to provide a descriptive reference of what is being shown. Unlike figure captions, it is not a space to augment article content or provide analysis. Successful alt text concisely communicates specific visual elements, allowing a reader to quickly understand what is pictured through a few key descriptive points.

Do tables require alt text?
Yes. Authors should provide alt text that summarizes the key finding or comparison presented in the table. Alt text should not list individual data values or repeat column headings.

Do videos require alt text?
Yes. For video or multimedia files, authors should provide a brief description summarizing the purpose of the video and ensure that a transcript or caption describing spoken content is available.

Can AI generate alt text?
In some workflows, automated tools may generate preliminary alt text for figures. Authors remain responsible for reviewing and confirming the accuracy of alt text and may revise it during the proof stage before publication.

What if my figure needs more explanation?
Alt text must be brief and cannot be used as a space to offer extensive details. However, if extensive description of visual content is needed, authors may provide a long description in addition to alt text. A long description is an optional supplement to alt text that offers a longer, more detailed description of the visual content. Like alt text, long descriptions are placed in the metadata of a webpage, making it accessible to assistive technologies. While long descriptions cannot be substituted for alt text, they can be a useful addition in making infographics and complex figures accessible to readers.

Will alt text change how my work is displayed?
Alt text will not affect your work’s visual content or digital display. Alt text is located in the metadata of a webpage, making it available to assistive technologies such as screen readers without affecting visual content. It is a non-visual addition to a webpage’s code designed to accommodate users of assistive tools without altering visual data.

How does my work benefit from alt text?
Readers are not the only ones to benefit from alt text. Effective alt text has many advantages for authors and researchers interested in the relevance and visibility of their work. These advantages include:

  • Reaching a wider and more diverse audience to maximize viewership and impact
  • Improving search engine optimization (SEO) rankings for related figures, schemes, and multimedia
  • Boosting overall search engine relevance of content
  • Optimizing viewer experience
  • Providing a fail-safe alternative if visual content cannot be supported
  • Building a stronger and more inclusive scientific community

How do I write alt text for my work?
Effective alt text should briefly describe what the visual shows and summarize the main result or trend. For detailed guidance, refer to the Alt Text Author Instructions or download a pdf of the Alt Text Author Instructions.