An image map is a graphic that takes the user to a different location according to the position of the image that is clicked on. It is composed of a single graphic and coding in the HTML of the document to tell the browser where each portion of the graphic leads. The mapping of the graphic is usually done with a program such as Map This.

A mapping program can be used to merely find the coordinates for the various zones, or it can be used to create most of the HTML file itself.

Here is an example of a the basic format for an image map:

<IMG SRC="graphic.gif" USEMAP="#MyMap" ALT="The Image Map">

<MAP NAME="MyMap">
<AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="0,0,50,60" HREF="page1.html" ALT="Page 1">
<AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="60,60,100,100" HREF="page2.html" ALT="Page 2">
<AREA SHAPE=default HREF="Page3.html">
</MAP>

This page was created by Scott Andersen, Eric Schroeder, and Drew Viersen.