Alt Text Generator Directus Extension

Generate SEO-optimized alt text for the images in your Directus file library, one at a time or in bulk

Directus Extension Icon
📥Install Directus Extension📦View on GitHub

Alt Text Generator AI writes SEO-friendly alt text for your images with AI. The Directus extension brings that into the Directus Data Studio: a bulk screen for your whole file library, plus a button on every file page. This step-by-step guide shows how to install it and use it.

Better alt text helps your site's accessibility and image SEO, and saves hours of writing descriptions by hand.

1

Install the Extension

  1. In Directus, open Settings and then Marketplace
  2. Search for Alt Text Generator and install it
  3. Self-hosting without the Marketplace? Run npm install directus-extension-alt-text-generator in your project and restart Directus

💡Needs Directus 11. The extension is free. Alt text uses credits from your Alt Text Generator AI account.

npm install directus-extension-alt-text-generator
2

Show the Module in the Sidebar

  1. Open Settings and then Settings again
  2. Scroll to Module Bar
  3. Tick Alt Text Generator. It now appears in the left bar

💡Directus hides new modules until you turn them on. You can also open it any time at /admin/alt-text-generator.

Directus Module Bar settings with Alt Text Generator ticked
3

Add Your API Key

  1. Create an account on AltTextGeneratorAI.com and copy your API key
  2. Open the Alt Text Generator module
  3. Paste the key and click Save. Your remaining credits show below it
  4. Choose the language of the alt text
Alt Text Generator module in Directus with the API key field, credits and images missing alt text
4

Generate Alt Text for Many Images

  1. The module lists your images with thumbnails. Missing shows the ones without alt text
  2. Tick the images you want, or leave them all unticked
  3. Click Generate selected or Generate all missing. Each image uses 1 credit
  4. Edit any text you want to change, then click Save changes

💡The alt text is saved in each file's Description field. Images that already have a description are skipped unless you tick Overwrite.

Generated alt text for five images in the Directus module, ready to review and save
5

Generate Alt Text for One Image

  1. In the module, click Add button to file pages once. You need admin access for this
  2. Open any file in the File Library
  3. Scroll to Generate Alt Text and click Generate alt text
  4. The text appears in Description. Save the file to keep it
Directus file page with the Generate alt text button and the Description filled in
6

Use the Alt Text on Your Site

  1. Read each file's description through the Directus API
  2. Use it as the image's alt text in your front end
GET /files/<id>?fields=id,filename_download,description

<img src="https://your-directus.example.com/assets/<id>" alt="{description}" />
✓

Bulk Screen

A module in the Directus sidebar scans your file library, shows thumbnails and lists the images that are missing alt text.

✓

Pick Your Images

Tick the images you want, or generate for every image that is missing alt text. Review and edit before you save.

✓

Button on Every File

Open any file and click one button to write its alt text into the Description field.

✓

131 Languages

Choose the language of the alt text, from English and Spanish to Zulu.

✓

Free Credits

Sign up to get free credits and test alt text generation on your own files.

✓

Free Extension

The extension costs nothing. You only use credits when you generate alt text.

🔑

Activate Your Extension

Install the extension, turn on the Alt Text Generator module in Settings, then paste your API key into the module.

Get API Key→