Active <area> elements must have alternative text

An image map consists of a single image with numerous clickable sections. Because screen readers cannot translate graphics into text, an image map, like all images, must contain alternative text for each of the distinct clickable parts, as well as for the larger image itself.

In the absence of alternative text, screen readers often announce the image’s filename. Filenames do not accurately describe images and are therefore inconvenient for screen reader users.

What this Accessibility Rule Checks

Ensures that image map area elements have alternative text.

Learn more:

Deque Reference

Deque University - How To Fix

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W3C Reference

WCAG 2.1: Providing text alternatives for the area elements of image maps

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