Image pack

What does Google document about image results?

Google defines an image result as a result based on an image that is embedded on a web page. It is more likely to show for image-seeking queries. The result consists of an image thumbnail and an attribution, which can include elements such as favicon, site name, URL and breadcrumb. Tapping or clicking the thumbnail takes the user to the image. Google also notes that how a result looks can vary with device, country and query language.

Google does not describe in detail when it adds images to the main results. The idea of mixing formats goes back to universal search.

What does Google recommend for image results?

The advice is the same for all places where images appear in Google, according to the image SEO guide:

• Embed images with the HTML <img> element and a src attribute. Google does not index CSS background images.
• An image sitemap can point Google to images it might otherwise miss, and it may include image URLs from other domains such as a CDN.
• Supported formats are BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, SVG and AVIF. The file extension should match the format.
• Alt text is the most important attribute for providing metadata about an image. Describe the image and avoid keyword stuffing.
• Short, descriptive file names such as my-new-black-kitten.jpg give light clues about the subject.
• With srcset or <picture>, always provide a fallback src.

Example

<img src="/images/hiking-backpack-30l.jpg"
     alt="Green 30-liter hiking backpack, back view">

Last updated: October 8, 2026