California Department of Rehabilitation - Web Accessibility Resources

Section 508, 1194.22(f)

Quick Links:

“Provide client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape”

WCAG 1.0 Checkpoint: 9.1

Explanation

In other words, because regions defined in client-side maps are accessible via keyboard (tabbing), use them whenever possible so that those who cannot use a mouse can access them.

Before: Server-Side Map

			<a href="http://www.example.com/cgi-bin/imagemap/my-map">
			<img src="welcome.gif" alt="Welcome!" ismap />
			</a>
			

After: Client-Side Map

<object data="navbar1.gif" type="image/gif" 
	usemap="#myMap">
<map name="myMap">
  <p>Navigate the site</p>
  [<a href="guide.html" shape="rect"
   coords="0,0,118,28">Access Guide</a>]
  [<a href="shortcut.html" shape="rect"
   coords="118,0,184,28">Go</a>]
  [<a href="search.html" shape="circle"
   coords="184.200,60">Search</a>]
  [<a href="top10.html" shape="poly"
   coords="276,0,276,28,100,200,50,50,276,0">
     Top Ten</a>]
</map>
</object>

Reference