ExampleAn image-map, with clickable areas: <map
name="planetmap"> <area shape="rect" coords="0,0,82,126" href="sun.htm" alt="Sun" /> <area shape="circle" coords="90,58,3" href="mercur.htm" alt="Mercury" /> <area shape="circle" coords="124,58,8" href="venus.htm" alt="Venus" /> </map> | Browser Support |
1. Definition and Usage
The <area> tag defines an area inside an image-map (an image-map is an image with clickable areas).
The <area> element is always nested inside a <map> tag.
Note: The usemap attribute in the <img> tag is associated with the <map> element's name attribute, and creates a relationship between the image and the map.
2. Differences Between HTML 4.01 and HTML5
HTML5 has some new attributes, and some HTML 4.01 attributes are no longer supported.
3. Differences Between HTML and XHTML
In HTML the <area> tag has no end tag.
In XHTML the <area> tag must be properly closed.
4. Required Attributes
DTD indicates in which HTML 4.01/XHTML 1.0 DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.
| Attribute | Value | Description | DTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| alt | text | Specifies an alternate text for an area | STF |
5. Optional Attributes
| Attribute | Value | Description | DTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| coords | coordinates | Specifies the coordinates of an area | STF |
| href | URL | Specifies the hyperlink target for the area | STF |
| nohref | nohref | Specifies that an area has no associated link | STF |
| shape | default rect circle poly | Specifies the shape of an area | STF |
| target | _blank _parent _self _top | Specifies where to open the linked page specified in the href attribute | TF |
6. Standard Attributes
The <area> tag supports the Standard Attributes in HTML.
7. Event Attributes
The <area> tag also supports the Standard Event Attributes in HTML.
