- : The Image Map element
- Examples
- Image map with two areas
- HTML
- Result
- Technical summary
- Specifications
- Browser compatibility
- See also
- Found a content problem with this page?
- MDN
- Support
- Our communities
- Developers
- HTML Image Maps
- Image Maps
- Example
- How Does it Work?
- The Image
- Create Image Map
- The Areas
- Shape
- Shape=»rect»
- Example
- Shape=»circle»
- Example
- Shape=»poly»
- Example
- Image Map and JavaScript
- Example
- Chapter Summary
- HTML Image Tags
- HTML Image Maps
- What are HTML Image Maps?
- How to Create Image Maps in HTML Document?
- Style “” in CSS
- Style “img” Element
- How to Create an Image Map Linked to Other Page?
- Conclusion
- About the author
- Sharqa Hameed
- HTML Tag
- Browser Support
- Attributes
- Global Attributes
- Event Attributes
- More Examples
- Example
- Related Pages
- Default CSS Settings
- COLOR PICKER
- Report Error
- Thank You For Helping Us!
: The Image Map element
The name attribute gives the map a name so that it can be referenced. The attribute must be present and must have a non-empty value with no space characters. The value of the name attribute must not be equal to the value of the name attribute of another element in the same document. If the id attribute is also specified, both attributes must have the same value.
Examples
Image map with two areas
Click the left-hand parrot for JavaScript, or the right-hand parrot for CSS.
HTML
map name="primary"> area shape="circle" coords="75,75,75" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/JavaScript" target="_blank" alt="JavaScript" /> area shape="circle" coords="275,75,75" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/CSS" target="_blank" alt="CSS" /> map> img usemap="#primary" src="parrots.jpg" alt="350 x 150 picture of two parrots" />
Result
Technical summary
Content categories | Flow content, phrasing content, palpable content. |
---|---|
Permitted content | Any transparent element. |
Tag omission | None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory. |
Permitted parents | Any element that accepts phrasing content. |
Implicit ARIA role | No corresponding role |
Permitted ARIA roles | No role permitted |
DOM interface | HTMLMapElement |
Specifications
Browser compatibility
BCD tables only load in the browser
See also
Found a content problem with this page?
This page was last modified on Apr 13, 2023 by MDN contributors.
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HTML Image Maps
With HTML image maps, you can create clickable areas on an image.
Image Maps
The HTML tag defines an image map. An image map is an image with clickable areas. The areas are defined with one or more tags.
Try to click on the computer, phone, or the cup of coffee in the image below:
Example
Here is the HTML source code for the image map above:
How Does it Work?
The idea behind an image map is that you should be able to perform different actions depending on where in the image you click.
To create an image map you need an image, and some HTML code that describes the clickable areas.
The Image
The image is inserted using the tag. The only difference from other images is that you must add a usemap attribute:
The usemap value starts with a hash tag # followed by the name of the image map, and is used to create a relationship between the image and the image map.
Tip: You can use any image as an image map!
Create Image Map
The element is used to create an image map, and is linked to the image by using the required name attribute:
The name attribute must have the same value as the ‘s usemap attribute .
The Areas
Then, add the clickable areas.
A clickable area is defined using an element.
Shape
You must define the shape of the clickable area, and you can choose one of these values:
- rect — defines a rectangular region
- circle — defines a circular region
- poly — defines a polygonal region
- default — defines the entire region
You must also define some coordinates to be able to place the clickable area onto the image.
Shape=»rect»
The coordinates for shape=»rect» come in pairs, one for the x-axis and one for the y-axis.
So, the coordinates 34,44 is located 34 pixels from the left margin and 44 pixels from the top:
The coordinates 270,350 is located 270 pixels from the left margin and 350 pixels from the top:
Now we have enough data to create a clickable rectangular area:
Example
This is the area that becomes clickable and will send the user to the page «computer.htm»:
Shape=»circle»
To add a circle area, first locate the coordinates of the center of the circle:
Then specify the radius of the circle:
Now you have enough data to create a clickable circular area:
Example
This is the area that becomes clickable and will send the user to the page «coffee.htm»:
Shape=»poly»
The shape=»poly» contains several coordinate points, which creates a shape formed with straight lines (a polygon).
This can be used to create any shape.
Like maybe a croissant shape!
How can we make the croissant in the image below become a clickable link?
We have to find the x and y coordinates for all edges of the croissant:
The coordinates come in pairs, one for the x-axis and one for the y-axis:
Example
This is the area that becomes clickable and will send the user to the page «croissant.htm»:
Image Map and JavaScript
A clickable area can also trigger a JavaScript function.
Add a click event to the element to execute a JavaScript function:
Example
Here, we use the onclick attribute to execute a JavaScript function when the area is clicked:
Chapter Summary
- Use the HTML element to define an image map
- Use the HTML element to define the clickable areas in the image map
- Use the HTML usemap attribute of the element to point to an image map
HTML Image Tags
Tag | Description |
---|---|
Defines an image | |
Defines an image map | |
Defines a clickable area inside an image map | |
Defines a container for multiple image resources |
For a complete list of all available HTML tags, visit our HTML Tag Reference.
HTML Image Maps
Oftentimes, you may have visited websites where you could find a link like this: “Visit the link to learn more”. As a result, if you click on this, you will be taken to a different website. In the same way, HTML’s image mapping function enables us to add clickable links to images. The page will direct us to another source when you click on that specified area.
What are HTML Image Maps?
The image map is a picture with areas that can be clicked. To make an image map in HTML, the “ ” element is utilized. Moreover, one or more “ ” tags are added within the “” element to specify the areas.
The syntax to specify image maps in an HTML document is mentioned below:
The “ ” element is defined with the following attributes:
- “src” specifies the image path.
- “alt” shows an alternate text when an image cannot load.
- “usemap” is specified to make the image areas clickable. To make a link, its value must be the same as the class or id of the “” element.
The “ ” element is added with the following attributes:
- “shape” specifies the area size of an HTML “ ” element.
- “coords” attribute defines the coordinates of the clickable area.
- “href” attribute set out the URL of the source.
How to Create Image Maps in HTML Document?
To create an image map in an HTML document, check out the given instructions:
- In HTML, add a “ ” element, and assign a class “image-map”.
- Within this div, add an “ ” element to add an image associated with the above-discussed attributes.
- Then, add an HTML “ ” element and assign it the “clickspace” name.
- Note that the “usemap” attribute is assigned the name “#clickspace” pointing to the “name” attribute of the “” tag.
- Inside it, add the “ ” tag with the above-stated attributes:
Let’s move toward the CSS section to adjust the size of the image.
Style “” in CSS
Utilize the “.image-map” class to access the “ ” element and apply the following CSS properties:
Here is the description of the mentioned CSS properties:
- The “width” property sets the div element’s width.
- The “margin” property adds more room around the element.
Style “img” Element
See, the area coordinates specified in the “coords” attribute are now clickable:
In the next section, we will learn how to link the image map to another source.
How to Create an Image Map Linked to Other Page?
Create another HTML page with the extension “.html” by following the steps mentioned below:
- In our case, we give it the name “laptop.html”.
- Add a div element and assign it a class “laptop-img”.
- Then, place an image using the “ ” element and associate the “src” and “width” attributes.
- Next, specify a paragraph using the “ ” element:
A laptop is a portable computer that can be moved and used in a variety of settings. < / p >
In CSS, specify the following CSS properties to the “laptop-img” class:
Now, we will link the “laptop.html” page to an image “ ” element of the first page. To do so, specify the URL of the page to the “href” attribute of the “” element as shown below:
We have successfully learned what image maps are and how they are linked with other sources.
Conclusion
The HTML “ ” element is utilized to create an image map or an image with clickable areas. To define the image’s clickable areas, one or more “ ” tags are added within the “” element. Moreover, the attributes associated with the “” tag are “shape”, “coords”, and “href”. This post has illustrated how to create HTML image maps with an example.
About the author
Sharqa Hameed
I am a Linux enthusiast, I love to read Every Linux blog on the internet. I hold masters degree in computer science and am passionate about learning and teaching.
HTML Tag
The tag is used to define an image map. An image map is an image with clickable areas.
Browser Support
Attributes
Global Attributes
Event Attributes
More Examples
Example
Another image map, with clickable areas:
usemap=»#planetmap»>
Related Pages
Default CSS Settings
Most browsers will display the element with the following default values:
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