HTML <area> element

The <area> element defines one clickable or non-clickable region inside an image map. It is used only inside a <map> element.

The shape attribute describes the kind of region. Common values are rect, circle, poly, and default. The coords attribute then gives the coordinates for that shape.

If the href attribute is present, the area is a hyperlink. In that case, the alt attribute is required because the clickable region needs a text alternative. The reader should not have to see the image to know what the area does.

If there is no href attribute, the area does not act as a link. It may still define a region, but it is not a selectable hyperlink destination.

The <area> element is empty. It has no closing tag and no visible body. Its effect is only felt through the image map attached to an image.

Used well, <area> gives one image several precise destinations. Used badly, it creates mystery links that depend on invisible geometry and are difficult to repair when the image changes.

Attributes: alt, coords, shape, href, target, download, ping, rel, referrerpolicy, GLOBALS.

Typical layout:
<map name="diagram-map">
  <area
    shape="circle"
    coords="80,80,40"
    href="centre.html"
    alt="Centre of the diagram">
</map>

Visual representation: