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Descriptive image names

What are descriptive filenames?

Descriptive filenames are meaningful, semantically sensible filenames for images and other media files. Instead of using generic names like "IMG_001.jpg" or "image1.png", descriptive filenames precisely and understandably describe the image content.

Benefits of descriptive filenames

Descriptive filenames offer numerous advantages for search engine optimization:

  • Better indexing: Search engines can better understand image content
  • Higher relevance: Filenames contribute to thematic relevance
  • Improved user experience: Users recognize image content from the filename
  • Accessibility: Screen readers can read filenames aloud
  • SEO signals: Filenames are an important ranking factor for images

Best practices for descriptive filenames

1. Use descriptive terms

Use precise, descriptive terms that clearly define the image content:

Good:

  • red-sports-car-ferrari-f1.jpg
  • hamburger-recipe-ingredients-setup.jpg
  • berlin-brandenburg-gate-night.jpg

Bad:

  • image1.jpg
  • IMG_20231201_143022.jpg
  • untitled.png

2. Place keywords strategically

Integrate relevant keywords into filenames, but avoid keyword stuffing:

Good:

  • seo-optimization-tools-comparison.jpg
  • wordpress-tutorial-beginners.jpg

Bad:

  • seo-seo-optimization-seo-tools-seo-comparison-seo.jpg

3. Use hyphens as separators

Use hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_) or spaces:

Good:

  • mobile-seo-optimization.jpg
  • content-marketing-strategy.jpg

Bad:

  • mobile_seo_optimization.jpg
  • content marketing strategy.jpg

4. Use lowercase

Use lowercase consistently for better compatibility:

Good:

  • responsive-webdesign-example.jpg
  • e-commerce-seo-checklist.jpg

Bad:

  • Responsive-WebDesign-Example.jpg
  • E-Commerce-SEO-Checklist.jpg

5. Optimize filename length

Keep filenames between 3-5 words and maximum 60 characters:

Good:

  • seo-checklist-2025.jpg (18 characters)
  • google-analytics-tutorial.jpg (25 characters)

Bad:

  • seo-checklist-for-2025-with-all-important-details-and-tips.jpg (67 characters)

Avoid common mistakes

1. Special characters and umlauts

Avoid special characters, umlauts and spaces in filenames:

Problematic:

  • image with umlauts äöü.jpg
  • image@with#specialchars.jpg

Correct:

  • image-with-umlauts-aeoeue.jpg
  • image-with-special-chars.jpg

2. Generic terms

Avoid too generic terms that provide no added value:

Bad:

  • photo.jpg
  • image.png
  • graphic.svg

Better:

  • team-meeting-office.jpg
  • product-overview-category.png
  • company-logo-2025.svg

3. Date in filename

Use date information only when relevant:

Relevant:

  • event-2025-01-15.jpg
  • update-changelog-2025.jpg

Not relevant:

  • article-2025-01-15.jpg (when the date is not important)

Technical aspects

File extensions

Use the correct file extension according to the image format:

  • JPEG: .jpg or .jpeg for photos
  • PNG: .png for graphics with transparency
  • WebP: .webp for modern, compressed images
  • AVIF: .avif for cutting-edge compression
  • SVG: .svg for vector graphics

URL structure

Descriptive filenames work best in a logical folder structure:

/images/
  /products/
    /smartphones/
      - iphone-15-pro-max-black.jpg
      - samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra.jpg
  /blog/
    /seo-tips/
      - keyword-research-tools.jpg
      - on-page-seo-checklist.jpg

Integration with alt attributes

Descriptive filenames should be combined with meaningful Alt-Tags:

Filename: seo-checklist-2025.jpg
Alt-Tag: "SEO checklist 2025 with all important optimization points"

Tools for descriptive filenames

Automation

  • Bulk Rename Tools: For renaming many files
  • Content Management Systems: Automatic generation based on metadata
  • process tools: Integration into the content creation process

conventions

Develop consistent naming conventions for your team:

  1. Format: category-subcategory-description.jpg
  2. Language: Consistently German or English
  3. Length: Maximum 5 words
  4. Separators: Hyphens (-)

Measuring success

KPIs for descriptive filenames

  • Image rankings: Position in Google image search
  • Click-through rate: CTR from image search
  • Indexing: Number of indexed images
  • Traffic: Organic traffic through images

Monitoring tools

  • Search Console: Image performance reports
  • Google Analytics: Image traffic analysis
  • SEO Tools: Image ranking monitoring

Checklist: Descriptive filenames

Criterion
Description
Status
Descriptive
Filename describes image content precisely
☐
Keywords included
Relevant keywords are integrated
☐
Use hyphens
No underscores or spaces
☐
Lowercase
Consistently lowercase
☐
Optimal length
3-5 words, max. 60 characters
☐
No special characters
No umlauts or special characters
☐
Correct extension
Appropriate file extension (.jpg, .png, etc.)
☐

Related topics

Last Update: 13. October 2025