Level ASince WCAG 2.0
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
Guideline 1.2: Time-based Media – Audio and video need captions, descriptions or transcripts.
What does the rule require?
What can only be seen in a video must be available another way: as audio description or as a full text version of the video.
How to get it right
Easiest: say everything important out loud in the video (“I now click Save at the top right”). Otherwise offer a text version with all visual information.
Who benefits most?
- Blind people
- People with low vision
Official wording
This page explains the rule in simple words. Only the original W3C text is normative.
- “Understanding Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)” at W3C (external site)
- Techniques in the WCAG Quick Reference (external site)