Image map area has no text

Why it matters

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 Lumtera flags

<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 to 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 to check your fix

1. Update the post. The issue disappears from the Accessibility sidebar on the next check, and from the site report on the next scan.
2. 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.