What is the primary significance of alternative text in display design?

The primary significance of alternative text in display design is that it enhances accessibility for users with disabilities. Alternative text, often used in digital content, serves as a textual description of images or visual elements. This is especially crucial for individuals who are blind or have low vision, as they rely on screen readers to interpret content.

By providing descriptive alternative text, you ensure that these users can understand what images convey, which contributes to a more inclusive user experience. It helps bridge the gap between visual and non-visual information, allowing everyone, regardless of their abilities, to access and engage with the content effectively.

While options like decorating the interface or simplifying the design may have some relevance in certain contexts, their contributions to display design do not have the same impact on inclusivity and access as alternative text does. Additionally, improving load times is more associated with technical optimization rather than user-centered design principles. Therefore, enhancing accessibility stands out as the most critical function of alternative text in this context.