1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA) — WCAG 2.1
WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA): 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 → 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA)
What it requires: A stricter version of 1.2.3: prerecorded video needs actual audio description (not just an alternative text option) whenever the existing dialogue doesn’t convey the visual information.
Common failure: A styled “lookbook” video showing outfit combinations with only background music has no narration describing what’s shown — the entire content is visual and inaccessible to a blind viewer with no other alternative provided.
Fix it: Record a narration track describing key visuals inserted during natural pauses, or produce a version with continuous description if pauses aren’t long enough (see 1.2.7, AAA).
In 1.2 Time-based Media: ← 1.2.4 Captions (Live) · 1.2.6 Sign Language (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.