1.2.3: Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

What it means

Prerecorded video must offer audio description of important visual details, or a full text alternative that covers both audio and visuals. People who cannot see the screen need to know what is shown, not just what is said.

Pick one approach — described video or a complete text version — and make it easy to find.

How to fix it

• Add a separate audio-described version, or embed description in pauses in the main track.
• Alternatively, provide a transcript that describes key on-screen action and text.
• Cover visuals that are not already explained in the dialogue.
• Link the alternative from the same page as the video player.

Quick examples

• Good: A how-to video offers a described version that narrates each click and menu change.
• Bad: A chart-heavy explainer video has captions but never describes what appears on screen.
• Good: A detailed text transcript notes slides, demos, and on-screen statistics.
• Bad: Users must call support to learn what happened in a silent portion of a demo.