Social Security Administration Guide: Alternate Text for Images

Image maps

Image maps apply to websites; not electronic documents.

Image maps should not generally be used because:

 

• They have become an outdated method of presenting links;

• It is easier to use CSS for laying out links on different areas of the screen;

• Screen magnifier users almost always find image maps impossible to use effectively; and

• Screen reader software is commonly able to tab to the areas of the image map, but the alt-text is not automatically exposed during the process.

If, after considering the notes above, image maps are still regarded as absolutely necessary, the alt-text should be presented as it would for links as normal, and placed in the <area> tag. For guidance on links, see ‘Agency Guide: Alternative text for links, controls and form elements’ (a link to this guide is provided in the back pages of this document).