Critical1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A)Rule ID: area-alt
Image map area elements must have alternate text
`<area>` elements inside image maps are missing meaningful `alt` text.
Rule Description
Checks all <area href> elements for valid non-empty alt values.
Why It Matters
- Screen reader users cannot identify clickable regions
- Keyboard users cannot understand destination of each hotspot
- Functional image maps become unusable without names
How to Fix
Add concise alt text for every <area> that describes purpose or destination.
Bad Example:
<area shape="rect" coords="0,0,50,50" href="/north">
Good Example:
<area shape="rect" coords="0,0,50,50" href="/north" alt="Open North region details">
Common Mistakes
- Missing
altattribute - Generic values like “area” or “link”
- Repeated identical alt text for different destinations
Testing
- Navigate image map with keyboard and screen reader
- Verify each hotspot announces distinct purpose
- Run automated checks for non-text alternatives
External Resources
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