Level AWCAG 2.2
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
An alternative is provided for prerecorded audio-only and video-only media.
Why it matters
Hearing impairment
Provides equivalent information in text form to users who cannot hear audio content.
Visual impairment
Video-only content needs audio description or a text alternative.
Environmental constraints
Content can still be understood in places where audio cannot be played, such as on a train or in a library.
Search and reference
A text alternative makes content searchable and easier to quote or cite.
Live demo
Text alternatives for prerecorded media
Video player
Accessibility basics
0:30
No text alternative
A deaf user
There is no way to know what the audio contains
Prerecorded audio and video need a text alternative that conveys the same information. Transcripts help not only deaf users but also anyone who cannot play audio in their current environment.
Understand through a persona
Kimura (45) — Congenitally deaf
Takes video courses on an online learning site. Videos without a transcript are incomprehensible, leaving him behind in his studies. 'If there were text, I could learn at my own pace.'