Bug 512838 - make images accessible
Summary: make images accessible
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: okular
Classification: Applications
Component: PDF backend (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: unspecified
Platform: unspecified Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Okular developers
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-12-01 15:28 UTC by lachende_bachstelze
Modified: 2025-12-03 15:31 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
a PDF file with an image with alt text (631.91 KB, application/pdf)
2025-12-03 12:52 UTC, lachende_bachstelze
Details

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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.