HTML - <area> Tag

HTML <area> tag specifies the areas of the image, mapping that can be clicked on or are active areas that are linked to by hyperlinks. It will carry out some action, such as open a new image or URL.

Using multiple <area> elements in a single <map> element, different areas inside an image map can be hyperlinked to different destinations. The (necessary) attributes shape and coords are used to define the <area> element. The area's shape, such as a polygon, rectangle, circle, or square, is specified by the shape attribute. The coords attribute defines the coordinates of different regions inside the image.

Syntax

<area shape="" coords="" href="">

Attribute

HTML area tag supports Global and Event attributes of HTML. And some specific attributes as well which are listed bellow.

Attribute	Value	Description
alt	text	Specifies an alternate text for the area.
coords	coordinates	Specifies the coordinates appropriate to the shape attribute to define a region of an image for image maps.
download	filename	Specifies that the target gets downloaded when hyperlink is clicked by user.
href	URL	Specifies the URL of a page or the name of the anchor that the link goes to.
hreflang	language_code	Specifies the language of the target URL.
media	media query	Specifies media/device the target URL is optimized for.
nohref	true/false	Excludes an area from the image map
rel	alternate author bookmark help license next nofollow noreferrer prefetch prev search tag	Specifies relationship between the current document and the target URL
shape	rect rectangle circ circle poly polygon	Specifies the shape of the image map
target	_blank _parent _self _top	Where to open the target URL.
type	mime_type	Specifies the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type of the target URL.

Examples of HTML area Tag

Bellow examples will illustrate the usage of area tag. Where, when and how to use it to define area and how we can manupulate area element using CSS.

Area Tag to map Image

In the following example, we will mark poly, rect, and circle area on the image using area tag. Where the shapes poly, rect, and circle will be clickable and will be redirected to the tutorials.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
   <title>HTML area Tag</title>
</head>
<body>
   <img src = /images/usemap.gif alt = "usemap" border = "0" usemap = "#tutorials"/>   
   <map name = "tutorials">
      <area shape = "poly" coords = "74,0,113,29,98,72,52,72,38,27"
      href = "/perl/index.htm" alt = "Perl Tutorial" target = "_blank">
      
      <area shape = "rect" coords = "22,83,126,125" alt = "HTML Tutorial"
      href = "/html/index.htm" target = "_blank">
      
      <area shape = "circle" coords = "73,168,32" alt = "PHP Tutorial"
      href = "/php/index.htm" target = "_blank">
   </map>
</body>
</html>

Area Tag on Image to Zoomin

In this example we have mapped an image with rect when you hover on the invisible rect the image will zoomin and if your cursor moveout of that rect the image will be go back to it's normla form.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <style>
        #myImage {
            width: 500px;
            height: 300px;
            transition: transform 0.25s ease;
        }
        #myImage.zoomed {
            transform: scale(2);
        }
    </style>
    <script>
        function zoomIn() {
            document.getElementById('myImage').classList.add('zoomed');
        }
        function zoomOut() {
            document.getElementById('myImage').classList.remove('zoomed');
        }
    </script>
</head>
<body>
    <img id="myImage" src="/html/images/html-mini-logo.jpg" usemap="#image-map">
    <map name="image-map">
        <area target="" alt="Zoom Area" title="Zoom Area"
              href="#" coords="34,44,270,350" shape="rect" 
              onmouseover="zoomIn()" onmouseout="zoomOut()">
    </map>
</body>
</html>

Supported Browsers

Tag
area	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

html_tags_reference.htm