Media must expose playback controls
Rule
media-controls· Document, language & navigation · impact serious · Static + live
Why it matters
A <video> or <audio> with no controls attribute renders as an inert rectangle: no play, pause or volume affordance for anyone, and nothing for a keyboard or screen-reader user to reach. A custom control bar is legitimate, but markup alone cannot confirm one exists — so this is raised for author review rather than as a certain failure. Muted looping background video is exempt (no audio to control), and autoplaying media with sound belongs to no-autoplay-audio instead.
How to fix
Add controls to the media element, or confirm the custom player exposes play/pause, seek and volume as real focusable, labelled controls.
Example
<video src="talk.mp4"></video>
<video src="talk.mp4" controls></video>
Example
<audio src="episode.mp3"></audio>
<audio src="episode.mp3" controls></audio>
WCAG success criteria
1.4.2 Audio Control — Level A
If any audio plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, provide a way to pause or stop it (or control its volume) independently of the overall system volume.
Standards
This rule contributes to the following standards:
WCAG A EN 301 549
| Standard | Criteria |
|---|---|
| EN 301 549 | 9.1.4.2 |