Text alternatives · WCAG 2.0 Level A
Active <area> elements must have alternative text
Ensure <area> elements of image maps have alternative text.
What it means
The area-alt rule flags elements that fail this check. It maps to WCAG success criteria 2.4.4, 4.1.2.
Who it affects
People who are blind or have low vision and use screen readers, and anyone whose images fail to load.
How to fix it
Give each <area> in an image map an alt attribute.
<area shape="rect" coords="0,0,80,40" href="/north" alt="North region">Check it on your site
Run a free scan. If this rule fails, the results list the affected elements. Deque, which maintains axe-core, also documents this rule in detail: Deque University: area-alt.
Quick answers
What does the axe rule "area-alt" check?
Ensure <area> elements of image maps have alternative text.
How do I fix "Active <area> elements must have alternative text"?
Give each <area> in an image map an alt attribute.
Who is affected by area-alt failures?
People who are blind or have low vision and use screen readers, and anyone whose images fail to load.
Automated accessibility scan. Results are informational and may not identify every accessibility issue. This service is not legal advice, a compliance certification, or a substitute for comprehensive manual accessibility testing.