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Captions (Prerecorded):
Understanding SC 1.2.2

1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded): Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)

Intent of this Success Criterion

The intent of this Success Criterion is to enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing to watch synchronized media presentations. Captions provide the part of the content available via the audio track. Captions not only include dialogue, but identify who is speaking and include non-speech information conveyed through sound, including meaningful sound effects.

It is acknowledged that at the present time there may be difficulty in creating captions for time-sensitive material and this may result in the author being faced with the choice of delaying the information until captions are available, or publishing time-sensitive content that is inaccessible to the deaf, at least for the interval until captions are available. Over time, the tools for captioning as well as building the captioning into the delivery process can shorten or eliminate such delays.

Captions are not needed when the synchronized media is, itself, an alternate presentation of information that is also presented via text on the Web page. For example, if information on a page is accompanied by a synchronized media presentation that presents no more information than is already presented in text, but is easier for people with cognitive, language, or learning disabilities to understand, then it would not need to be captioned since the information is already presented on the page in text or in text alternatives (e.g., for images).

Specific Benefits of Success Criterion 1.2.2:

People who are deaf or have a hearing loss can access the auditory information in the synchronized media content through captions.

Examples of Success Criterion 1.2.2

A captioned tutorial
A video clip shows how to tie a knot. The captions read,
"(music)
Using rope to tie knots was an important skill
for the likes of sailors, soldiers and woodsmen.."
From Sample Transcript Formatting by Whit Anderson.
A complex legal document contains synchronized media clips for different paragraphs that show a person speaking the contents of the paragraph. Each clip is associated with its corresponding paragraph. No captions are provided for the synchronized media.
An instruction manual containing a description of a part and its necessary orientation is accompanied by a synchronized media clip showing the part in its correct orientation. No captions are provided for the synchronized media clip.

Related Resources

Resources are for information purposes only, no endorsement implied.

Guides to Captioning

SMIL Resources

Other Captioning Resources

Captioning Tools

Techniques and Failures for Success Criterion 1.2.2 - Captions (Prerecorded)

Each numbered item in this section represents a technique or combination of techniques that the WCAG Working Group deems sufficient for meeting this Success Criterion. [begin change]However, it is not necessary to use these particular techniques. For information on using other techniques, see Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria, particularly the "Other Techniques" section.[end change]

Sufficient Techniques

G93: Providing open (always visible) captions
G87: Providing closed captions using any readily available media format that has a video player that supports closed captioning
G87: Providing closed captions using any of the technology-specific techniques below

Additional Techniques (Advisory) for 1.2.2

Although not required for conformance, the following additional techniques should be considered in order to make content more accessible. Not all techniques can be used or would be effective in all situations.

Providing a note saying "No sound is used in this clip" for video-only clips (future link)
Using SMIL 1.0 to provide captions for all languages for which there are audio tracks (future link)
Using SMIL 2.0 to provide captions for all languages for which there are audio tracks (future link)

Common Failures for SC 1.2.2

The following are common mistakes that are considered failures of Success Criterion 1.2.2 by the WCAG Working Group.

Key Terms

audio: the technology of sound reproduction
Note: Audio can be created synthetically (including speech synthesis), recorded from real world sounds, or both.
captions: synchronized visual and/or text alternative for both speech and non-speech audio information needed to understand the media content
Note 1: Captions are similar to dialogue-only subtitles except captions convey not only the content of spoken dialogue, but also equivalents for non-dialogue audio information needed to understand the program content, including sound effects, music, laughter, speaker identification and location.
Note 2: Closed Captions are equivalents that can be turned on and off with some players.
Note 3: Open Captions are any captions that cannot be turned off. For example, if the captions are visual equivalent images of text embedded in video.
Note 4: Captions should not obscure or obstruct relevant information in the video.
Note 5: In some countries, captions are called subtitles.
Note 6: Audio descriptions can be, but do not need to be, captioned since they are descriptions of information that is already presented visually.
media alternative for text: media that presents no more information than is already presented in text (directly or via text alternatives)
Note: A media alternative for text is provided for those who benefit from alternate representations of text. Media alternatives for text may be audio-only, video-only (including sign-language video), or audio-video.
prerecorded: information that is not live
synchronized media: audio or video synchronized with another format for presenting information and/or with time-based interactive components, unless the media is a media alternative for text that is clearly labeled as such

Captions (Prerecorded):Understanding SC 1.2.2