1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded video is provided.

Last reviewed: September 9, 2026

Understanding 1.2.3

This criterion ensures blind and low-vision users can access visual information in a video, such as on-screen text, actions, or scene changes that aren't conveyed in the existing dialogue. It offers two equally valid paths: add audio description narrating the key visuals during natural pauses in dialogue, or provide a full text transcript that describes both the audio and video content.

How to Meet It

Review the video for visual-only information (silent actions, on-screen text, charts). If present, either add a narrated audio description track (via a second audio track or an extended-description video) or produce a text transcript that describes the visuals in addition to the dialogue. If the video has no meaningful visual-only content, this criterion is already met by the existing captions/transcript.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need audio description if the video's dialogue already explains everything visible on screen?

No. If a sighted user and a blind user relying only on the audio would understand the same information, no separate audio description is needed. This criterion only applies when visual information is not conveyed in the existing audio.

Can I satisfy this with just a text transcript instead of an audio description track?

Yes. A full text transcript describing both audio and video content is an explicitly permitted alternative to producing an audio-described version of the video.

Related Success Criteria

1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)1.2.4 Captions (Live)1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Quick Facts

Criterion1.2.3
LevelA
IntroducedWCAG 2.0

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