All WCAG criteria
WCAG 1.2.3 · PerceivableLevel A

1.2.3Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

Prerecorded video must include audio description of visual content, OR a full media alternative (text transcript including descriptions of visuals).

Common failures

Patterns that fail this criterion.

  • 01Training video with on-screen text only described, not narrated
  • 02Product demo where the demo is visual and the audio narration omits what is shown
How to test

Testing approach: manual.

Manual — confirm audio description track exists OR a complete media alternative text is provided.

How to fix

Remediation steps.

  1. 1

    Audio description

    Add a second audio track that narrates the visual content during pauses in the dialog.

  2. 2

    Media alternative

    Provide a complete text transcript that includes both the dialog AND descriptions of relevant visuals (someone reading the transcript should understand the video).

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Related criteria

Often appears with…

WCAG 1.2.1 · Level A

Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

WCAG 1.2.5 · Level AA

Audio Description (Prerecorded)

All 50 WCAG 2.1 Level A + AA success criteria explained.

View the full checklist