--- title: "Using {ellmer} for Dynamic Alt Text Generation in {shiny} Apps" url: https://daily.dev/posts/using-ellmer-for-dynamic-alt-text-generation-in-shiny-apps-vwrmxjhk1 source_url: https://www.r-bloggers.com/2026/01/using-ellmer-for-dynamic-alt-text-generation-in-shiny-apps/ type: article source: "R-bloggers" published: 2026-01-23T00:52:37.113Z updated: 2026-01-23T00:52:57.671Z tags: ["llm", "r", "accessibility"] reading_time: 7 upvotes: 1 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Using {ellmer} for Dynamic Alt Text Generation in {shiny} Apps **[R-bloggers](https://daily.dev/sources/rbloggers)** · 7 min read · 1 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary The ellmer package enables dynamic alt text generation for ggplot2 charts in Shiny apps using large language models like Google Gemini. The implementation includes error handling, consistent image rendering, and automatic cleanup to ensure reliable accessibility features. The approach generates descriptive alt text that stays synchronized with user interactions while gracefully degrading if API calls fail. For production apps with high traffic, consider caching alt text for unchanged plots and allowing manual overrides for critical visualizations. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [I tried Google's new DiffusionGemma, and watching it generate text like an image is unlike any local LLM](https://daily.dev/posts/i-tried-google-s-new-diffusiongemma-and-watching-it-generate-text-like-an-image-is-unlike-any-local-0op3vd8nm) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [R port of llama2.c](https://daily.dev/posts/r-port-of-llama2-c-nweeh1nbo) · R-bloggers · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [Google intros EmbeddingGemma for on-device AI](https://daily.dev/posts/google-intros-embeddinggemma-for-on-device-ai-ytgqca3ot) · InfoWorld · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [Repost: OpenAI Codex App: Vibe-updating my old qqman R package to ggplot2 with plan\+execute.](https://daily.dev/posts/repost-openai-codex-app-vibe-updating-my-old-qqman-r-package-to-ggplot2-with-plan-execute--zxvf7373q) · R-bloggers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#llm](https://daily.dev/tags/llm), [#r](https://daily.dev/tags/r), [#accessibility](https://daily.dev/tags/accessibility) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/using-ellmer-for-dynamic-alt-text-generation-in-shiny-apps-vwrmxjhk1)