Introduction
Information types and topics
Topics are the building blocks of modular documents, and organising topics by semantic information types is one of the architectural features of DITA.
DITA map files
Syntax and mark-up
Language and punctuation
Graphics and figures
- Figures and images
  Images are placed in topic content using the image element. The image element can stand alone, or can be contained within a figure (fig) element.
- Image file formats
  Where there is no strong reason to choose another image file format, you should use SVG or PNG file formats in DITA topics.
- Image alignment, placement, and sizing
  The align, placement, width, and height attributes of the image element are used to specify the placement and size of images when generated to an output delivery format.
- Images in titles
  Images in topic, figure, and other titles, while technically valid, should not be used.
- Callouts
  Callouts with keys, rather than text labels, should be used when identifying parts of an illustration.
- Localising graphics
  Where possible, graphics that include text should be managed in SVG format to simplify localisation.
- Multimedia in DITA topics
  The object element is used to embed multimedia in DITA topics.
- Figures containing tables
  Simple tables can be contained within figures instead of, or in addition to, images.
- Image maps
  The imagemap element is used to define image maps (hotspot graphics) in DITA topics.
- WAI compliance
  So that output from your DITA source meets accessibility responsibilities, you must include alternative text representations of all images in DITA content.
Cross-referencing
Cross-references are a means of binding individual topics into a coherent and navigable document.
Content re-use
Metadata, conditional processing, and indexing
The DITA documentation process
DITA authoring concepts
Moving from style-based authoring to a structured authoring methodology such as DITA requires a radically different approach to writing.

WAI compliance

So that output from your DITA source meets accessibility responsibilities, you must include alternative text representations of all images in DITA content.

Graphics in HTML and other online formats must have alternative text representations in order to comply with Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines (and national laws, such as US Section 508).

You must include alternative text representation values in the alt attribute of all image elements.

If the images are purely presentational in nature, they should be applied via CSS (in the presentation layer). When an image is specified within a CSS, there is no capacity to specify alternative text; such images are considered to be simply decorative. This does not breach the WAI recommendations.

When graphics are used to denote notes, warnings, etc, it could be argued that the images contain meaning. Therefore, CSS should not be used to place such images; the HTML img element, with a descriptive alt attribute, should be used. These labels will be applied by the DITA publishing process; as a DITA author, you only need to apply the correct semantic mark-up, such as the note element and its type attribute.