Perceivable · Level A · Introduced in WCAG 2.0
WCAG 1.2.2: Captions (Prerecorded)
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
What this criterion means
Prerecorded video with audio needs synchronized captions for spoken words and meaningful sounds. Captions let someone follow the soundtrack while watching the related visual action.
A practical example
A safety demonstration says “release the latch” while a warning beep sounds. Captions identify the instruction and beep at the correct moment; a transcript below the player helps separately but does not synchronize with the demonstration.
How to check it
- Play the complete video with captions enabled and sound muted.
- Compare a second playback with sound, checking names, numbers, speaker changes and meaningful audio cues.
- Check timing and caption placement where slides, faces or demonstrations would otherwise be covered.
What can be missed
Machine-generated captions need review. A caption button can be present even when no usable track is loaded. The criterion has an exception for clearly labeled media alternatives to text.
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These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.
Primary sources and scope
This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.