Bug 512838

Summary: make images accessible
Product: [Applications] okular Reporter: lachende_bachstelze
Component: PDF backendAssignee: Okular developers <okular-devel>
Status: CONFIRMED ---    
Severity: wishlist CC: aacid, kde
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: unspecified   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: a PDF file with an image with alt text

Description lachende_bachstelze 2025-12-01 15:28:32 UTC 
SUMMARY
Images need to include alt texts to make them accessible for blind people. Screen readers can then read the alt texts to users. Additionally, for sighted readers, the alt text can be shown when hovering over an image. 


STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. create a PDF document with an image, e.g. using LibreOffice, add alt text to that image and export it as a PDF
2. open the document in Okular
3. note how there is no alt text anymore, neither read out by a screen reader nor visible on hovering

OBSERVED RESULT
no alt text

EXPECTED RESULT
an accessible document
Comment 1 Albert Astals Cid 2025-12-01 15:58:33 UTC 
Don't make us work for no reason.

Attach such a PDF.
Comment 2 lachende_bachstelze 2025-12-03 12:52:52 UTC 
Created attachment 187321 [details]
a PDF file with an image with alt text
Comment 3 Sune Vuorela 2025-12-03 15:31:25 UTC 
Thank you.

Poppler parses it into a StructElement in getAltText - the alt text is exposed in the glib bindings, but no one actually uses it. It is not exposed in the Qt bindings.

So first I guess poppler need to expose it in some way, then Okular needs to read it.