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Image map with no name attribute Screen reader compatibility

HTML
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 84 screen reader / browser combinations

For expected failures, the results show which AT combos the failures affect. Results are recorded from the user's viewpoint, so describe the user impact of authoring errors.

Code used for this test:


		<img src='1234.png' alt='this is alt text' usemap='#area_alt_map1'>
		<map id='area_alt_map1'>
		<area alt='this is left alt text' coords='0,0,100,100' href='left_arrow.htm' target='frame1'></area>
		<area alt='this is right alt text' coords='200,0,300,100' href='right_arrow.htm' target='frame1'></area>
		</map>

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Better NVDA with Chrome Better - caused problems in NVDA 2022.2, but now OK in NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2016.2, but now OK in NVDA 2023.3
  • Better JAWS with Chrome Better - caused problems in JAWS 2022.2207.25, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Good JAWS with IE Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 2018.1811.2, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Better WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
  • Good Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Good SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text.
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text, link this is left alt text, link this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Silence - no indication image of AREA links exist
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Silence - no indication image of AREA links exist
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Silence - no indication image of AREA links exist
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Silence - no indication image of AREA links exist
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Silence - no indication image of AREA links exist
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Tabbing to this link jumps to random point in document
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Silence - tabbing to this link moves focus to a random point on the page
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading No indication AREA links exist This is alt text.
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Tabbing to this link jumps to random point in document
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading This is alt text, graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading No indication AREA links exist This is alt text.
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Tabbing to this link jumps to random point in document
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is left alt text. This is alt text, graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Graphic link, this is left alt text. Graphic link, this is right alt text
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is alt text graphic. This is right alt text, link, this is alt text graphic
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text, this is alt text
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading No indication AREA links exist Graphic, this is alt text, this is alt text
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Tabbing silent for second tab onto second area This is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text, graphic - all read for 1st link
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Silence when tabbing to AREA links - no indication of image map role or name
OK NVDA 2012.1FF 28 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF 28 Tabbing silent for second tab onto second area This is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text, graphic - all read for 1st link
OK NVDA 2012.3IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail NVDA 2012.3IE11 Tabbing Silence when tabbing to AREA links -no indication of image map role or name
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing This is alt text, image map, this is left alt text image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing This is alt text, image map, this is left alt text image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Image map links ignored. This is alt text, graphic.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Image map links ignored. This is alt text, graphic.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Image map links ignored. This is alt text, graphic.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Image map links ignored. This is alt text, graphic.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Image map ignored.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Image map links ignored. This is alt text, graphic.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing Complete silence when tabbing between AREAs.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Image map ignored.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing Some image map links ignored, and ARIA alt text not read. Right underline arrow, image map link. Silence.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Image map link graphic, this is left alt text. Image map link graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. This is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading This is alt text, graphic. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Image map ignored.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Some image map links ignored, and ARIA alt text not read. Tab, right underline arrow, image map link. Tab.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Alt ignored and link URL gibberish read out. Image map link graphic, left underline arrow. Image map link graphic, right underline arrow.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Tabbing Tab, this is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map link graphic. Tab, this is right alt text, image map link graphic.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is left alt text, image map link. Tab, this is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Tabbing Tab, this is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map. Tab, this is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is left alt text, image map link. Tab, this is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map. This is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is left alt text, this is right alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Tabbing This is alt text, graphic, this is left alt text, image map. This is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links. Graphic, this is left alt text, this is right alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing silence for second tab This is left alt text, this is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Graphic, this is alt text. Image map link, this is left alt text. Image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link. This is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading No link role read out - no indication graphics are links Graphic, this is left alt text, this is right alt text. Graphic, this is left alt text. Graphic, this is right alt text
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing silence for second tab This is left alt text, this is right alt text, image map
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, image map link, this is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text, image map link
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF 28 Reading no indication of image map links graphic, this is alt text
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF 28 Tabbing wrong alt read out when tabbing This is alt text, graphic, for first area, silence for second area
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading graphic, this is alt text, image map link, this is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, image map link, this is right alt text, image map link
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading This is alt text. Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Link, this is left alt text. Link, this is right alt text
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading This is alt text, link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Silence when tabbing to AREA links - no indication of image map role or name
Fail VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image map links unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. You are currently on an image map. In, this is alt text, image map content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image map links unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. You are currently on an image map. In, this is alt text, image map content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image map links unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. You are currently on an image map. In, this is alt text, image map content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image map links unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. You are currently on an image map. In, this is alt text, image map content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. In, this is alt text, image map, content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. In, this is alt text, image map, content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text, image map. Interact with: this is alt text, image map, content is empty.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing. VoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1TouchVoiceOver does not recognize image maps correctly unless the map has a name attribute. This is alt text
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading This is alt text. This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, link. This is right alt text, link
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading link, this is left alt text, link, this is right alt text
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing This is left alt text, link, this is right alt text, link

Test notes

All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.

Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:

  • Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader
  • Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader
  • Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader
  • Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device

In the “What the user hears” column:

  • Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
  • Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again
  • Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
  • (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear