Image Maps
Summary
- Use client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps where possible.
- Navigating image maps can present problems. Provide textual alternatives.
Guidelines
- Image maps fall into two categories: server-side image maps and client-side image maps.
- A client-side image map's functions are provided on the client's end (the user's browser) rather than at your web server's side. All the information needed to run the map is included in your web page document. Since text-only browsers, screen readers, and other devices may not be capable of interpreting links in server-side image maps, use client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps whenever possible.
- Server-side image maps do not allow you to use
ALT tags to describe individual links in the image map. So if you use a server-side image map, provide a redundant set of text links to duplicate the links in the map. This allows users to interact with the links without having to use a pointing device, such as a mouse.
See Also
Return to Previous or Continue
