Image Maps

ISSUE:

An image map is a picture with multiple active regions, each of which takes the user to a different page or location based on where the mouse click occurred within the image. There are two basic types of image maps: "client-side image maps" and "server-side image maps."

Client-side image maps allow both mouse and keyboard navigation. By specifying an appropriate ALT tag for each active region, a client-side image map functions like a series of links for users of adaptive technology, some hand-held devices, text-only browsers or browsers with picture loading disabled.

In contrast, server-side image maps do not allow keyboard navigation or the specifying of ALT tags for active regions. When the use of a server-side image map is required, Alternative links should be provided for each active region of the image map in order to ensure access for visitors using adaptive technology, some hand-held devices, text-only browsers and browsers with picture loading disabled.

STANDARD:

• Include clear, concise and informative alternative text for each region of a client-side image map.



• Avoid the use of server-side image maps.



• Include alternative links for each active region of a server-side image map.