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area and img with alt attributes Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 32 screen reader / browser combinations

Client-side image maps are one of the oldest features with accessibility support on the web platform. They were introduced in RFC 1980 in August 1996, with accessibility support provided by the AREA ALT attribute. More than 20 years later, support in screen readers is still patchy, not helped by a series of incompatible changes introduced in successive HTML specs.

  • August 1996 - RFC 1980 - Originally specified IMG USEMAP as a URL referring to MAP NAME (e.g. usemap='#MyMap' refers to name='MyMap')
  • January 1997 - HTML 3.2 - Incorporated definition of IMG USEMAP unchanged from RFC 1980. This remained unchanged until XHTML 1.1.
  • May 2001 - XHTML 1.1 First Edition replaced MAP NAME with ID and changed USEMAP to an IDREF (e.g. usemap='MyMap' refers to id='MyMap') breaking backwards compatibility. This was reported as a specification bug in 2002
  • July 2010 - XHTML 1.1 Second Edition changed USEMAP back to an href referring to MAP ID (e.g. usemap='#MyMap' refers to id='MyMap'). This broke backwards compatibility with XHTML 1.1 First Edition, but didn't fix backwards compatibility with older versions of HTML due to the removal of MAP NAME.
  • October 2014 - HTML 5.0 changed USEMAP back to the original 1996 definition of URL referring to MAP NAME (e.g. usemap='#MyMap' refers to name='MyMap')

WCAG Technique: H24

Code used for this test:


		<img src='1234.png' alt='this is alt text' usemap='#area_alt_map2'>
		<map id='area_alt_map2' name='area_alt_map2'>
		<area alt='this is left alt text' coords='0,0,100,100' href='left_arrow.htm' target='frame1'></area>
		<area alt='this is right alt text' coords='200,0,300,100' href='right_arrow.htm' target='frame1'></area>
		</map>

Reliability Trend

This graph shows reliability over time for this code in NVDA, JAWS and Voiceover. Other screen readers don't have enough historical data yet to plot trends.

100%80%60%40%20%0%201455%201555%201655%201773%201880%201987%202093%202193%202293%

Change History

Last updated: September 11, 2022

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2016.2, but now OK in NVDA 2022.2
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Good JAWS with IE Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 2018.1811.2, but now OK in JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.11, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
  • Better WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
  • Good Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Good SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Graphic link, this is left alt text. Graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF48 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text, this is alt text
OK NVDA 2016.2FF48 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF41 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text, this is alt text
OK NVDA 2015.2FF41 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF28 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2014.1FF28 Tabbing silent for second tab onto second area This is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text, graphic - all read for 1st link
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Silence when tabbing to AREA links - no indication of image map role or name
OK NVDA 2012.1FF28 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF28 Tabbing silent for second tab onto second area This is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text, graphic - all read for 1st link
OK NVDA 2012.3IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2012.3IE11 Tabbing Silence when tabbing to AREA links - no indication of image map role or name
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing This is alt text image map, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Tabbing This is alt text graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing This is alt text image map, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing This is alt text image map, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Tabbing This is alt text graphic, this is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing This is alt text image map, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing This is alt text image map, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Tabbing This is alt text graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing This is alt text image map, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing This is alt text image map read-only, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Tabbing This is alt text graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading This is alt text graphic. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Tab, this is alt text image map read-only, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. Tab, this is right alt text, image map link graphic.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Reading Alt ignored and link URL gibberish read out. Image map link graphic, left underline arrow. Image map link graphic, right underline arrow.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Tabbing Tab, this is alt text graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. Tab, this is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is left alt text, image map link. Tab, this is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Tabbing Tab, this is alt text graphic, this is left alt text, image map. Tab, this is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is left alt text, image map link. Tab, this is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map. This is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF41 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is left alt text, this is right alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF41 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map. This is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF29 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is left alt text, this is right alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF29 Tabbing silence for second tab This is left alt text, this is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF29 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links Graphic, this is left alt text, this is right alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF29 Tabbing silence for second tab This is left alt text, this is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, image map link, this is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF28 Reading no indication of image map links Graphic, this is alt text
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF28 Tabbing wrong alt read out when tabbing This is alt text, graphic, for first area, silence for second area
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, image map link, this is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text, image map link
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading This is alt text. Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading This is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Silence when tabbing to AREA links - no indication of image map role or name
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading This is alt text, image map. In, this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading This is alt text, image map. In, this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading This is alt text, image map. In, this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading This is alt text, image map. In, this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading This is alt text, image map. In, this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing ALT text for IMG read out as label of first link instead of AREA ALT test Link, this is alt text, image map. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, 2 items, link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, or using the Next Link gesture, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text. (This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link)
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, or using the Next Link gesture, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text. (This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link)
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, or using the Next Link gesture, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text. (This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link)
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, or using the Next Link gesture, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text. (This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link)
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, or using the Next Link gesture, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text. (This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link)
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading if owner IMG has ALT text. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1TouchVery hard to find AREA links because image map links are not announced when reading. It is possible to find them by minesweeping, but there are no audible cues to tell the user they're missing links. This is alt text.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading This is alt text. This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is right alt text, link

SortSite rules: AccHtmlAreaNoAlt

Test notes

All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.

Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:

  • Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader
  • Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader
  • Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader
  • Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device

In the “What the user hears” column:

  • Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
  • Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again
  • Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
  • (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear