area-alt

Ensures <area> elements of image maps have alternate text.

Description

Multiple clickable areas might be present within an image map. There must be alternative texts provided for each clickable area, as well for the entire image, since assistive technologies cannot translate image into text.

Why is it important?

Multiple clickable areas might be present within an image map. While sighted users can find it simpler to infer the purpose of the image and each of the clickable areas, it might become challenging for a user with low vision who would be relying on assistive technologies that cannot translate images into text.

Examples

• Success:

  • Each <area> element has an alternative text provided to describe its purpose.

• Failure:

  • <area> elements do not have an alternative text provided to describe their purpose.

How to fix?

Define alternative text to describe the purpose of every <area> element using title, aria-label, aria-labelledby or alt attributes.

Tags

cat.text-alternatives, wcag2a, wcag244, wcag412, section508, section508.22.a, ACT

References

• WCAG 4.1.2: Name, Role, Value
• Deque University: area-alt
• Accessibility Insights: area-alt
• Evinced Digital Accessibility Knowledge Base: area-alt