Success Criterion 1.2.1
Conformance level A

1.2.1 · Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

Lesson overview · Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

In plain language

Audio-only content (podcasts) needs a transcript — video-only content (silent clips) needs a transcript or narration.

Who it affects

Deaf people who need transcripts of audio-only media, and blind people who need alternatives to silent video.

How to check

Find every audio/video without the other channel and check a complete, accurate transcript or audio track is linked right next to it.

Common misconception

YouTube's automatic captions don't count as a transcript, and a transcript link buried on a different page doesn't satisfy this rule. The text needs to be complete, accurate, and next to the media.

Learn more

Understanding Understanding this success criterion (opens in a new tab)

Scenarios in this lesson

Audio Description File Left as a Filename, Not Real Text
Long Description That Doesn’t Match What the Audio Actually Says
Podcast Episode Published With No Transcript at All
Transcript Missing Speaker Names or Key Background Sounds
Auto-Generated Transcript Too Inaccurate to Trust
Silent Demo Video With No Transcript or Narration
Transcript Link That’s Broken or Locked Behind a Login
Transcript That Exists but Isn’t Linked Near the Media
Instructional GIF Treated as Decorative Instead of Informative
Show Notes Presented as if They Were a Real Transcript
Video’s Narrated Audio Track Skips Key Visual Details
Video Alternative Not Labeled as a Substitute for Article Text