What this criterion requires
Prerecorded audio-only content needs a text transcript. Prerecorded video-only content (no soundtrack) needs either a transcript or an audio description conveying the same information.
Who it helps
People who are deaf need the transcript of audio; people who are blind need the description of silent video.
Example: fails vs passes
A 20-minute podcast episode embedded on the page with a player and nothing else.
The same episode with a full text transcript published directly below the player.
Audio-only content needs a transcript; silent video needs a text or audio description.
How to meet and fix it
- Publish a full transcript next to podcasts and recordings
- Describe what happens in silent videos in text or an audio track
Common failures auditors find
- A podcast page with a player and no transcript
- A silent product demo video with no textual equivalent
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 1.2.1: Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 1.2.1 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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