HTML ... Tag

Example

An image-map, with clickable areas:

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.

Browser Support

The <area> tag is supported in all major browsers.

Differences Between HTML and XHTML

In HTML the <area> tag has no end tag.
In XHTML the <area> tag must be properly closed.

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

Optional Attributes

Attribute	Value	Description	DTD
coords	coordinates	Specifies the coordinates of an area	STF
href	URL	Specifies the destination of a link in an 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

Standard Attributes

The <area> tag supports the following standard attributes:

Attribute	Value	Description	DTD
accesskey	character	Specifies a keyboard shortcut to access an element	STF
class	classname	Specifies a classname for an element	STF
dir	rtl ltr	Specifies the text direction for the content in an element	STF
id	id	Specifies a unique id for an element	STF
lang	language_code	Specifies a language code for the content in an element	STF
style	style_definition	Specifies an inline style for an element	STF
tabindex	number	Specifies the tab order of an element	STF
title	text	Specifies extra information about an element	STF
xml:lang	language_code	Specifies a language code for the content in an element, in XHTML documents	STF

Event Attributes

The <area> tag supports the following event attributes:

Attribute	Value	Description	DTD
onblur	script	Script to be run when an element loses focus	STF
onclick	script	Script to be run on a mouse click	STF
ondblclick	script	Script to be run on a mouse double-click	STF
onfocus	script	Script to be run when an element gets focus	STF
onmousedown	script	Script to be run when mouse button is pressed	STF
onmousemove	script	Script to be run when mouse pointer moves	STF
onmouseout	script	Script to be run when mouse pointer moves out of an element	STF
onmouseover	script	Script to be run when mouse pointer moves over an element	STF
onmouseup	script	Script to be run when mouse button is released	STF
onkeydown	script	Script to be run when a key is pressed	STF
onkeypress	script	Script to be run when a key is pressed and released	STF
onkeyup	script	Script to be run when a key is released	STF