[Bug 15948] New: <area> should be classified as "interactive content"

https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=15948

           Summary: <area> should be classified as "interactive content"
           Product: HTML WG
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: PC
               URL: http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/content-models.html#inter
                    active-content-0
        OS/Version: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: major
          Priority: P2
         Component: HTML5 spec (editor: Ian Hickson)
        AssignedTo: ian@hixie.ch
        ReportedBy: xn--mlform-iua@xn--mlform-iua.no
         QAContact: public-html-bugzilla@w3.org
                CC: mike@w3.org, public-html-wg-issue-tracking@w3.org,
                    public-html@w3.org


Created attachment 1076
  --> https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/attachment.cgi?id=1076
Demo of how a <area> styled look like <a>

It is inconsistent:

* that <area> has 'link' role within the WAI ARIA section [1], 
* and yet the element isn't  listed as 'interactive content'. [2]

For example, a consequence of the current status is that it is conforming to
place an <area> element inside an <a> element: 

      <a href=foo ><area href=foo ></a>

I don't rule out that it could make sense to nest <area> inside <a>. However,
for the most part, it would only leads to trouble. For instance, screenreaders
are likely to hear the same link announced twice.

But even if it can be justified to permit <area> inside <a>, the <area> should
still be treated as interactive content, and instead a special exception to the
rule which says that interactive content cannot be the child of an <a> should
be made.

The justification for why <area> must be considered interactive content is that
when the image of an image map does not display -  or otherwise when it is
wanted, then one can make <area> visible via area{display:inline-block} and
area:before{content:attar(alt)} etc. In that case, one can also navigate to the
<area> link via tabulation or click it with the mouse and it reacts to :focus.
In other words: It attains all the interactive features of <a>.

Demo of how a <area> styled look like <a>: http://tinyurl.com/7detoab 
(Or use the attached variant - if your browser does not support data URIs.)

[1] http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/wai-aria.html#table-aria-strong
[2] http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/content-models.html#interactive-content-0

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Received on Friday, 10 February 2012 07:16:21 UTC