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revision_from: 165b4140121d09acaa03f0498ab41b6a97e6760f:
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commit 165b4140121d09acaa03f0498ab41b6a97e6760f
Author: Solderpunk 
Date:   Mon Jun 15 15:48:11 2020 +0000

    Define weak notion of alt text.

diff --git a/docs/specification.gmi b/docs/specification.gmi

--- a/docs/specification.gmi
+++ b/docs/specification.gmi
@@ -256,6 +256,10 @@ Any line whose first three characters are "```" (i.e. three consecutive back tic

 Preformatting toggle lines can be thought of as analogous to 
 and 
 tags in HTML.

+Any text following the leading "```" of a preformat toggle line which toggles preformatted mode on MAY be interpreted by the client as "alt text" pertaining to the preformatted text lines which follow the toggle line.  Use of alt text is at the client's discretion, and simple clients may ignore it.  Alt text is recommended for ASCII art or similar non-textual content which, for example, cannot be meaningfully understood when rendered through a screen reader or usefully indexed by a search engine.  Alt text may also be used for computer source code to identify the programming language which advanced clients may use for syntax highlighting.
+
+Any text following the leading "```" of a preformat toggle line which toggles preformatted mode off MUST be ignored by clients.
+
 ### 5.4.4 Preformatted text lines

 Preformatted text lines should be presented to the user in a "neutral", monowidth font without any alteration to whitespace or stylistic enhancements.  Graphical clients should use scrolling mechanisms to present preformatted text lines which are longer than the client viewport, in preference to wrapping.  In displaying preformatted text lines, clients should keep in mind applications like ASCII art and computer source code: in particular, source code in langugaes with significant whitespace (e.g. Python) should be able to be copied and pasted from the client into a file and interpreted/compiled without any problems arising from the client's manner of displaying them.

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