All content that is audio-only like a podcast, or video-only like a silent movie, must have a text description or an audio description. This ensures that information communicated for sight and sound is available to people who cannot see or hear.
Accessibility Requirements for 1.2.1 Audio-only and video-only (A)
- Audio only content that communicates information (like a podcast) has a text transcript;
- Video-only content that communicates information (like a silent movie) has a text transcript that describes the video or a audio description.
Common Mistakes for 1.2.1 Audio-only and video-only (A)
- Audio-only content that communicates information does not have a text transcript;
- Video-only content that communicates information does not have a text transcript or an audio description;
- The text transcript for audio-only content does not include all spoken dialogue and sound effects;
- The text transcript for video-only content does not include descriptions of all important visual information;
- The text transcript for audio-only or video-only content is not clearly labelled as such.
- The audio description for video-only content does not include descriptions of all important visual information;
Techniques for 1.2.1 Audio-only and video-only (A)
HTML Techniques
Common Failures for 1.2.1 Audio-only and video-only (A)
The following are common mistakes that are considered failures of Success Criterion 1.2.1 by the WCAG Working Group.
- F30: Failure of Success Criterion 1.1.1 and 1.2.1 due to using text alternatives that are not alternatives (e.g., filenames or placeholder text)
- F67: Failure of Success Criterion 1.1.1 and 1.2.1 due to providing long descriptions for non-text content that does not serve the same purpose or does not present the same information
FAQs for Audio-only and video-only (A)
Is there need for text alternative for an audio narration?
Authors do have the choice of providing either an audio description or a full text alternative.
Examples for audio-only
An audio recording of a speech
An audio recording of a press conference
Podcast
Examples for video-only
An animation that illustrates how a car engine works
A video-only file
Can Screen readers read video?
Is there need for text alternative for an audio narration?
Authors do have the choice of providing either an audio description or a full text alternative.
Examples for audio-only
An audio recording of a speech
An audio recording of a press conference
Podcast
Examples for video-only
An animation that illustrates how a car engine works
A video-only file
What is prerecorded audio?
For video and audio, requires descriptions of visual-only and audible-only details, in addition to dialogue, be delivered as a text alternative version. It is not required that it is synchronized. A text version can serve as the media alternative
Related to Audio-only and Video-only (Pre-recorded)
- 1.2.2 – Captions (Pre-recorded)
- 1.2.3 – Audio Description or Media Alternative (Pre-recorded)
- 1.2.5 – Audio Description (Pre-recorded)
- Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.1 (W3C)