1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
Level AAA · added in WCAG 2.0
Every prerecorded video, with or without sound, gets a full text alternative that tells the whole story in order: dialogue, important sounds and important visuals. This is level AAA, which most laws and policies don't require, but it is still well worth doing.
Who it helps
Deafblind people can read a text alternative on a braille display when they can neither see nor hear the video. It also helps people who prefer reading, people on slow connections and anyone searching the content.
How to meet it
- Write a descriptive transcript: dialogue with speaker names, important sounds in brackets, and descriptions of key visuals.
- Keep everything in the order it happens in the video.
- Include any interactive parts, such as links or choices shown in the video, so readers can reach the same outcomes.
- Publish it as HTML text on the page, or one clearly named link away.
- Base it on the final edit; a script counts only if you correct it to match the finished video.
- Pair it with audio description where you can, since a text alternative alone doesn't meet 1.2.5 at level AA.
Examples
<video controls src="/video/clinic-tour.mp4">
<track kind="captions" src="/video/clinic-tour.en.vtt"
srclang="en" label="English">
</video><video controls src="/video/clinic-tour.mp4">
<track kind="captions" src="/video/clinic-tour.en.vtt"
srclang="en" label="English">
</video>
<details>
<summary>Descriptive transcript</summary>
<p>[A nurse walks through the clinic's front entrance.]</p>
<p><strong>Nurse:</strong> Check in at this desk first.</p>
<p>[A sign on the desk reads "Check-in, 8am to 6pm".]</p>
</details>Can a scanner detect this?
No
No axe-core rule checks for a text alternative to video. A tool can't find a transcript or judge whether it covers both sound and visuals. Read the alternative while you watch the video to confirm nothing is missing.
No automated rule tests this criterion. Check it by hand.
Common mistakes
- Publishing a captions file or a dialogue-only transcript that leaves out the visuals.
- Posting the pre-production script, which no longer matches the edited video.
- Forgetting video-only clips, such as silent demos, which this criterion also covers.
Related criteria
Check your own page
See which automated WCAG checks your page fails, with the failing elements and how to fix them.
Reviewed November 2, 2026