WCAG 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded): What It Means and How to Test It

Anton StewartAuthor Reviewed September 28, 2026 against the W3C Understanding document

What WCAG 1.2.3 Requires

Prerecorded video needs either an audio description track or a full text alternative that describes the visual content a blind visitor would otherwise miss.

Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?

Not fully. Like most WCAG criteria that depend on meaning or context, this one needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it never gets missed.

How to Test It by Hand

Watch the video with your eyes closed and see whether the audio alone (or a linked transcript) explains what is happening visually.

Common Failures

A tutorial video relies on on-screen text and cursor movement with no spoken equivalent.
No audio-described version and no transcript is offered as an alternative.

WCAG 1.2.3 Questions

What does WCAG 1.2.3 require?

Prerecorded video needs either an audio description track or a full text alternative that describes the visual content a blind visitor would otherwise miss.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.2.3 automatically?

Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.

What level is WCAG 1.2.3?

Level A, added in WCAG 2.0.

Sources

This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.

1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)