Perceivable · Level AAA · Introduced in WCAG 2.0
WCAG 1.2.8: Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
What this criterion means
Level AAA requires a complete text media alternative for prerecorded synchronized media and prerecorded video-only content. The alternative follows the sequence and conveys relevant visual and auditory information.
A practical example
A cooking lesson has spoken instructions, silent temperature labels and a timer sound. Its media alternative includes all three in order, allowing a reader to prepare the recipe without operating the recording.
How to check it
- Inventory the recording's speech, significant sounds, visible text and meaningful actions.
- Compare the text alternative against the full timeline, including interactions that ask the viewer to respond.
- Check that the alternative is easy to locate, uses real text and preserves the instructional order.
What can be missed
This is more than subtitles pasted below a player. A dialogue-only transcript can leave out the very information that makes the demonstration understandable.
Record your test
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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.