HTML Image Map

Today we are going to look at an almost rare HTML function called <map> we use it to make a mapping selection of links for one image.

The downside to this is that there is no real feedback for a specific hover.

HTML Structure

<img
  width="467px"
  src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1491378630646-3440efa57c3b?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=934&q=80"
  usemap="#image-map"
/>

<map name="image-map">
  <area
    target="_blank"
    alt="Ocean"
    title="Ocean"
    href="#ocean"
    coords="466,428,2,150,3,159,459,421,3,132,209,47,295,100,284,16,101,14"
    shape="rect"
  />
  <area
    target="_blank"
    alt="Sky"
    title="Sky"
    href="#sky"
    coords="467,152,1,-1"
    shape="rect"
  />
  <area
    target="_blank"
    alt="Sand"
    title="Sand"
    href="#sand"
    coords="1,699,465,700,467,446,165,440,139,416,109,413,64,440,2,450"
    shape="poly"
  />
</map>

As you can see we define an image as usual, but give it the attribute usemap="#image-map" this tells the image is needs to overlap with the map we are going to make below.

The map is called image-map and has three areas we defined two rectangles for the Sky and the Ocean and a Polygon for the sand because it was a triangle where it touches the water.

I've used the following website to generate this map: image-map.

So if you now hover/click, you will see there are three separate links for the one image.

Cool right?! But as mentioned, it doesn't give proper feedback that they're three separate links, so UX wise debatable if it's the best solution. There are some JavaScript solutions for styling.

Tomorrow we will look at an alternative way of doing this with absolute positioned elements so we can give them better hover effects.

Feel free to have a look at this Codepen.

See the Pen HTML Image Map by Chris Bongers (@rebelchris) on CodePen.

Browser Support

Supported by most modern browsers, and there are JavaScript solutions to make this work in more browsers.

View on CanIUse

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