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W3C WCAG · WCAG-1-2-AUDIO-VIDEO

W3C WCAG 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A)

Provide alternatives for prerecorded audio-only and video-only content, such as transcripts for audio and audio descriptions or text alternatives for video

HIGHRequirementDesign defaultsTechnical standardIn forceApplies from 5 October 2023

Where this comes from

Provision: 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A)

Instrument: W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2

Citation: W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Success Criterion 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded), Level A, W3C Recommendation 05 October 2023

Text version: WCAG 2.2

Read the official text ↗

Who it applies to

It applies when all of these are true:

  • Service type — any answer
  • Service allows user-generated content

What engineering work it implies

Sample acceptance criteria Landfall generates for this obligation:

  • Every prerecorded audio-only file (podcasts, recordings) has a complete, accurate text transcript published alongside it
  • Every prerecorded video-only file (silent animation/demo) has a text alternative or a narrated audio track conveying equivalent information
  • Media alternatives are clearly labelled and reachable from the media itself
  • Auto-generated transcripts are human-reviewed for accuracy before publishing
  • Unit tests cover the core logic (aim for >80% coverage on new code)

Questions people ask

Does W3C WCAG 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A) apply to my service?
It applies when Service type — any answer; Service allows user-generated content.
From when does this apply?
W3C WCAG 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A) applies from 5 October 2023. Its current status is: in force.

Find out whether this one lands on you

Landfall's pre-scan answers the applicability question above for your product in minutes, then turns every obligation that applies into traceable engineering tickets with a citation chain your auditors can follow.

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