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Feature - Image map area with alternative text

  • WAVE Category: Feature
  • WAVE ACCESSIBILITY PATTERN: Image map area with alternative text

Page Content Status

  • WAVE Tool Reference text
  • Example of a DOM Snippet Generated From WAVE Tool
  • Screenshots of Accessibility Pattern in Use
  • Credits/Authors

WAVE Tool Reference

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This content added 2026-04-27. Check for updated guidance at: https://wave.webaim.org/api/docs?format=html#alt_area

WAVE Category

Features

WAVE Error

Image map area with alternative text

What It Means

Alternative text is present for an image map area (hot spot).

Why It Matters

Presenting the functionality of image map areas (hot spots) in the <area> element's alt attribute value ensures that this information is presented to screen reader users or when images are disabled or unavailable.

What To Do

Ensure the alternative text for the area element describes the function of the image map hot spot. Additionally, ensure that the area elements are listed in the code in a logical, intuitive order (e.g., matching the visual order, alphabetically, etc.).

The Algorithm... in English

An image uses an image map containing an area element with a non-empty alt attribute value.

Standards and Guidelines

Example of a DOM Snippet Generated From WAVE Tool

[HTML snippet showing the code structure that WAVE detected]

Screenshots of Accessibility Pattern in Use

1. Descriptive Title for Screenshot Set 1

Description/text for image

[INSERT IMAGE HERE]

Credits/Authors

  • @MissBrandyLea
  • [INCLUDE Contributor 2]
  • [INCLUDE Contributor N]