Accessibility Wiki

Audio-only content needs a transcript

Rule audio-transcript · Document, language & navigation · impact moderate · Static + live

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Why it matters

Prerecorded audio-only content (a podcast, an interview recording) is inaccessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing unless the same information is offered as text. A transcript — linked or placed next to the player — provides that alternative. This heuristic flags an

How to fix

Add a transcript: link to a transcript page, or place the transcript text beside the player (e.g. inside the same

). Name the link or heading "Transcript" so it is discoverable.

Example

✕ Fails
<audio controls src="a.mp3"></audio>
✓ Passes
<figure><audio controls src="a.mp3"></audio><a href="/t.txt">Transcript</a></figure>

WCAG success criteria

1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) — Level A

Prerecorded audio-only content (a podcast, a recording) needs a text transcript, and prerecorded video-only content needs a transcript or audio description, so the information is available to people who cannot hear or see it.

Understanding 1.2.1

Standards

This rule contributes to the following standards:

WCAG A EN 301 549

Standard Criteria
EN 301 549 9.1.2.1

References