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Area element missing alternative text

Compliance Data & User Impact

User Impact: Critical

Disabilities Affected:

blindness
deafblindness
learning disabilities

WCAG Version:
2

WCAG Levels:

WCAG Guidelines:

Solution Techniques:

Automated Test Accuracy:
High

uTester Severity:
2

DRRSAG Designations:

description

How to Fix the Problem

Provide text alternatives that serve the same purpose as the selectable regions of an image map, using the alt attribute.

The Algorithm, in Simple Terms

Engine scans the page for <area> elements that are missing an alt attribute

Why Is it Important?

Users who use assistive tools, such as screen readers rely on a descriptive information to detect the content and controls.

Code Example

<map name="planetmap">

  <area shape="rect" coords="0,0,82,126" href="sun.htm" alt="example_Sun">

  <area shape="circle" coords="90,58,3" href="mercur.htm" alt="example_Mercury">

  <area shape="circle" coords="124,58,8" href="venus.htm" alt="example_Venus">

</map>

Additional Information

Relevant Technologies: HTML and XHTML Documents that contain area elements.

This element perfoms as a container, and has no functionality. This container may contain another elements that has functionality or logical role.

Ignore this issue if this element has an alternative that performs the same and overrides the content of this element.