Today we will 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 it needs to overlap with the map we will 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 touching the water.
I’ve used the following website to generate this map: image-map.
So if you now hover/click, you will see 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.
See this alternative way of making a multi clickable image with positioned elements.
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, there are JavaScript solutions to make this work in more browsers.
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