What is the best way to link the <title> in an <svg> so that screen readers will recognize it as the alternative text?

The most effective way to link the <title> in an SVG for screen readers is by using the aria-labelledby attribute. This attribute allows you to establish a relationship between the visible content of the SVG and the title element that serves as a description of that content.

When aria-labelledby is used, it points to the ID of the <title> element within the SVG. As a result, when a screen reader encounters the SVG, it reads the content of the <title> as if it were the alternative text describing the SVG. This method provides a clear semantic connection, ensuring that users who rely on assistive technologies receive appropriate context about the graphic or element.

Furthermore, it's important to note that the other options do not serve the same purpose effectively. The aria-label attribute provides an alternative label for an element but does not automatically associate with the SVG title. aria-describedby is used to provide supplementary information rather than a primary description. aria-live is intended for announcing dynamic content changes and is not relevant for this situation. Thus, aria-labelledby is the optimal choice for enhancing the accessibility of SVG titles for screen readers.