1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A) — WCAG 2.1
WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A): what it requires, a common e-commerce accessibility failure, and how to fix it.
This is educational technical reference content, not legal advice. It explains what WCAG 2.1 requires and how to meet it — not whether a specific site carries legal risk. Compliance with WCAG, the ADA, or any other accessibility law or standard is a legal determination; consult qualified counsel for legal risk assessment.
WCAG 2.1 guidelines hub → Perceivable → 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A)
What it requires: A prerecorded audio-only file (a podcast embed) needs a text transcript. A prerecorded video-only file (a silent product-demo clip) needs either a transcript or an audio track describing what’s shown.
Common failure: A brand’s “how it’s made” video, shot with no dialogue and only ambient sound, is embedded with no transcript or description track — a blind user gets nothing from it.
Fix it: For audio-only content, publish a text transcript alongside the player. For video-only content, add a short text description of the visual content near the embed, or provide a described version.
In 1.2 Time-based Media: 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) →
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This is educational technical reference content, not legal advice. It explains what WCAG 2.1 requires and how to meet it — not whether a specific site carries legal risk. Compliance with WCAG, the ADA, or any other accessibility law or standard is a legal determination; consult qualified counsel for legal risk assessment.
This page was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a person for accuracy before publication.