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W3C WCAG · WCAG-1-2-CAPTIONS

W3C WCAG 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) (Level A)

All prerecorded audio content in synchronized media must have captions for deaf and hard-of-hearing users

HIGHRequirementDesign defaultsTechnical standardIn forceApplies from 5 October 2023

Where this comes from

Provision: 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) (Level A)

Instrument: W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2

Citation: W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Success Criterion 1.2.2 Captions (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:

  • All prerecorded video with audio has synchronized captions covering dialogue and meaningful sound
  • Captions include speaker identification and non-speech audio cues (e.g., [applause], [music])
  • Captions stay synchronized with the audio throughout playback
  • Captions can be toggled on/off (not burned-in only), or an equivalent selectable track is offered
  • Automated accessibility scan (axe/Lighthouse) passes for the changed views

Questions people ask

Does W3C WCAG 1.2.2 Captions (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 1.2.2 Captions (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.

Run the pre-scanAll W3C WCAG obligations

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