1.2 Client side image maps preferred over server side image maps
New standards released
The New Zealand Web Standards 2.0 were released in March 2009 and replace the previous version, the New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0 (below). See Meeting the standards for more information.
Standard
1.2 Client side image maps are preferred over server side image maps. You must also provide redundant text links for each active region of any image map, and locate the links as close as possible to the image map they relate to.
Guide to this standard
Client side image maps are preferred over server side. However:
If server-side image maps must be used, then
- offer a text alternative to the server side map regions, or "hotpoints", at an appropriate place on the form (such as the form footer).
- The text alternative must have a mechanism to be able to be navigated to and selected without a mouse or equivalent device (i.e. able to be tabbed to and selected).
- Use the HTML alt text to enable this link, for example:
<img src="../images/header_nav.gif" alt="SSC Main Menu(links of this image map are available at the bottom of the page)" ismap>
If client-side image maps are used, then
- Ensure there is an alt text, for example:
<area shape="rect" coords="9,6,79,68" href="http:// www.ssc.govt.nz" alt="SSC Website">
This standard covers the W3C WAI checkpoints 1.2 and 1.5 for NZ government agencies.
Rationale for this standard
- Server-side image maps do not provide adequate support for alt text nor for conventional pointing devices (i.e. a mouse).
- People with cognitive or visual disabilities and/or those who do not have a “pointing device” (i.e. mouse) may require alternative methods for navigating and selecting their choices available on the site.
