DES 1.8 Avoid frames and pop-up windows, and be careful with image maps

Recommendations

• Do not use frames - use a well-designed non-frame navigation structure instead:
  • If you must use them, make sure you supply the developer with appropriate names that describe their function e.g. 'Main menu', 'page contents' - the developer will code these in so that they will be more accessible.
• Do not specify pop-up windows unless essential:
  • Forgivable usage - links to help information about the underlying page, for example on forms, but:
    • Always provide a warning on the link that a pop-up will result (you can use text or an icon with 'alt' text see DES 4.1);
    • On the pop-up always provide an explicit 'close' button;
    • The pop-up should avoid obscuring the original page - make it smaller in your designs - and communicate this to the developer.
• Be careful with image maps:
  • Do not use for the sake of it - consider specifying separate images instead;
  • If using then:
    • ensure the clickable regions are not too small such that they may be difficult to accurately locate and click - this is particularly a problem for people with motor disabilities or visual impairments,
    • ensure you supply a name for the map as a whole and each individual region (this will be used as 'alt' text - see DES 4.1,)
    • Add a cue to each area to show that it is clickable, e.g. borders on geographical maps, rollover effects etc.

Examples