Level ASince WCAG 2.0
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
Guideline 1.2: Time-based Media – Audio and video need captions, descriptions or transcripts.
What does the rule require?
Prerecorded videos with sound have captions. They show spoken words and important sounds, for example “[phone rings]”.
How to get it right
Ship a WebVTT file and include it with <track kind="captions">. Always correct automatic captions by hand.
Who benefits most?
- Deaf people
- People with cognitive disabilities
- Everyone
Official wording
This page explains the rule in simple words. Only the original W3C text is normative.
- “Understanding Captions (Prerecorded)” at W3C (external site)
- Techniques in the WCAG Quick Reference (external site)