Provide captions for all prerecorded audio content
Accessibility isn’t only about avoiding violations — it’s about ensuring your product can be used confidently by everyone. This guide explains the principle of this rule, shows what goes wrong in real-world code, and provides a verified fix that meets WCAG and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Why this matters and how to fix it
Why this matters
Deaf and hard-of-hearing users rely on captions to understand audio content. Without captions, they miss key information, especially for spoken dialogue or sound effects that provide context.
How to fix this issue
Include synchronized captions for all prerecorded audio. Use WebVTT or a caption track (`<track kind='captions'>`) in video players.
Developer guidance
Use YouTube Studio or transcription tools to auto-generate captions and edit for accuracy. Provide captions that match timing and include non-speech sounds where relevant.
Code examples
Incorrect Implementation
<audio controls src='interview.mp3'></audio>Correct Implementation
<video controls><source src='interview.mp4'><track kind='captions' src='interview.vtt' srclang='en'></video>
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