Provide text alternatives in image maps [H24]

Test info

Test for Success Criterion 2.4.4

About

Checked Elements: area

This test checks, if the area elements in image maps have an alternative text that describes the target of the link.

Short Description

An image map is an image divided into selectable regions defined by area elements (each area is a link). It is important to provide an alternative text in the area element, that serves the same purpose as the selectable area of the image. Specifying alternate text assists users without graphic display terminals, users whose browsers don't support forms, visually impaired users, those who use speech synthesizers, those who have configured their graphical user agents not to display images, etc.

How to Repair

Provide a text in the alt attribute of the area element that serves the same purpose as the selectable area of the image.

WCAG 2.0

Principle 2: Operable

User interface components and navigation must be operable. WCAG 2.0: Principle 2

Guideline 2.4: Navigable

Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are. Understanding Guideline 2.4

Success Criterion 2.4.4: Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A)

The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context , except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general . Understanding: Success Criterion 2.4.4

Technique

H24 - Providing text alternatives for the area elements of image maps

Possible Results

The link text of the area seems to be suspicious: The alternative text of the area in the image map seems to be a default or placeholder text instead of a proper description of the selectable area.
H24-altempty-fail2: H24-altempty-fail2
The area has no alternative text: There is no alternative text for the area of the image map that could serve the same purpose as the selectable area of the image.
Please check the link text of the area: Human input is necessary to verify, that the alternative text of the area serves the same purpose as the selectable area of the image.