Images
Image map area has no text
WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A)
- WCAG 2.2
- 1.1.1 Non-text Content
- Level
- A
- Default severity
- Error
- Available in
- Free
Updated for Lumtera 1.2.2 and Lumtera Pro 1.1.1.
Why does it matter?
Each clickable area of an image map is a link. Without alt text, a screen reader announces an unnamed link and the visitor has no idea where it goes.
Who it affects: Blind and low-vision people using screen readers, people who turn images off to save data, and search engines.
What does Lumtera flag?
<area> elements with an href but no alt text or accessible name.
Check ID area-missing-alt — use it to filter the content report or with wp lumtera issues --rule.
How do I fix it in WordPress?
Add an alt attribute to every <area> describing where the link goes, e.g. alt="Northern region sales".
Example
<area shape="rect" coords="0,0,120,80" href="/north/"><area shape="rect" coords="0,0,120,80" href="/north/" alt="Northern region stores">How do I check the fix?
- Update the post. The issue disappears from the Lumtera Accessibility sidebar on the next check, and from the site report on the next scan.
- Turn on a screen reader (VoiceOver on Mac: Cmd + F5; NVDA on Windows is free) and move through the image. You should hear a description that makes sense in context — or nothing at all for decoration.
Find this issue across your whole site
Lumtera runs this check in the block editor sidebar as you write, in the Elementor panel, in Review mode on the live page, and across the whole site in the content report and with wp lumtera scan. You can change its severity or turn it off in Lumtera → Settings.
Related checks
-
WCAG 1.1.1 · AError
Image has no alternative text
-
WCAG 1.1.1 · ANeeds review
Image has empty alt text
-
WCAG 1.1.1 · ANeeds review
Alt text looks like a file name
-
WCAG 1.1.1 · ATip
Alt text repeats "image of"
-
WCAG 1.1.1 · ATip
Alt text is very long
-
WCAG 1.1.1 · AError
Image button has no text
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