Image-map areas have no text alternative
Automated check area-alt, run with axe-core
- WCAG
- 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context), 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A)
- Severity
- Blocker: a task cannot be completed
- Typical effort
- Quick win, under 1 hour
- Category
- Navigation
Who this affects
Screen reader users navigating an image map, such as a clickable store locator or floor plan.
Why it matters
Each clickable region is announced as an unlabelled link, so the user cannot tell where any of them lead.
How to fix it
Give every <area> element an alt attribute describing its destination, for example alt="Stores in Berlin".
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