Which statement best differentiates meaningful images from decorative images?

• A. There is no distinction between decorative and meaningful images.
• B. Decorative images must be focusable.
• C. Meaningful images convey information or function and have a description; decorative images convey no information and have no functionality.
• D. Both types require a descriptive alt.

Answer: (C)

Accessibility hinges on whether an image adds information or serves a function for the user. A meaningful image is part of the content or interface: it conveys information or enables an action, so it needs descriptive text that communicates that meaning to someone who can’t see it. A decorative image, by contrast, is purely for appearance and doesn’t add content or function, so it should not have descriptive text that repeats or states information already given; in screen readers it’s typically marked to be ignored (empty alt). That’s why this statement best captures the difference: meaningful images convey information or function and have a description, while decorative images convey no information and have no functionality. The other choices either deny a distinction, require decorative images to be focusable, or claim both types must have descriptive text, which doesn’t align with accessibility best practices for decorative imagery.