Active <area> elements must have alternate text

Critical

What is the problem?

The "area-alt" accessibility rule ensures that all clickable areas within an image map have descriptive alternative text.

Impacted Groups

Blind
Deafblind
Mobility

Why is this important?

People who use screen readers rely on alternative text to understand the purpose of clickable areas within an image map. Without it, they may miss important information or be unable to navigate the website effectively.

How to solve this issue

To fix this, add an alt attribute to each <area> element within the image map. The alt attribute should provide a concise and descriptive text that accurately represents the content and purpose of the linked resource.

Rule Information

Rule ID

area-alt

Severity

Critical

Manual Review Required

Yes

Rule Group

WCAG 2.0 Level A & AA Rules

Guidelines

  • WCAG 2.1 (A)
  • WCAG 2.0 (A)
  • WCAG 2.2 (A)
  • Section 508
  • Trusted Tester
  • EN 301 549

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