# Videos have audio descriptions

- **Pattern:** `ab-000103` (`accessibility-wcag.perceivable.audio-description`)
- **Severity:** high
- **Lifecycle:** active
- **Last modified:** 2026-04-18
- **Canonical URL:** https://auditbuffet.com/patterns/ab-000103
- **License:** CC-BY-4.0 — attribute to AuditBuffet Pattern Catalog (https://auditbuffet.com/patterns/ab-000103)

## Why it matters

Users who are blind or have low vision cannot access purely visual information in a video — demonstrated workflows, screen interactions, on-screen text, or UI layouts are completely opaque without narration. WCAG 2.2 SC 1.2.5 (Audio Description — Prerecorded) is a Level AA requirement. For a product demo or tutorial video, the absence of audio description can make the core value proposition of a SaaS inaccessible to an entire segment of users.

## Severity rationale

High because visual-only video content is entirely inaccessible to blind users, violating WCAG 2.2 SC 1.2.5 at Level AA with no workaround short of a full text transcript.

## Remediation

Add an audio description track using `<track kind="descriptions">` or provide a text transcript that includes time-coded visual descriptions.

```tsx
<video controls>
  <source src="/product-demo.mp4" type="video/mp4" />
  <track kind="captions" src="/captions/demo-en.vtt" srclang="en" label="Captions" />
  <track kind="descriptions" src="/descriptions/demo-en.vtt" srclang="en" label="Audio descriptions" />
</video>
```

If audio description tracks are not feasible, publish a text transcript directly below the video that describes visual actions: `"[0:12] The user clicks Settings in the top navigation. [0:15] The account panel slides in from the right."` This satisfies WCAG 2.2 SC 1.2.3 as an alternative.

## Detection

- **ID:** `audio-description`
- **Severity:** `high`
- **What to look for:** Enumerate every relevant item. Check for audio description tracks (`<track kind="descriptions">`) or a transcription link next to videos. Audio description narrates visual content so users who cannot see the video understand what is happening.
- **Pass criteria:** At least 1 of the following conditions is met. Videos with important visual content have an audio description track or an equivalent text transcript with visual descriptions.
- **Fail criteria:** Videos lack audio descriptions and no text transcript is provided.
- **Skip (N/A) when:** Videos contain no important visual information (e.g., interview-only, talking head).
- **Detail on fail:** Example: `"Product demo video lacks audio description track — visual steps are not narrated for users with visual disabilities"`
- **Remediation:** Add an audio description track:

  ```tsx
  <video controls>
    <source src="/demo.mp4" type="video/mp4" />
    <track kind="descriptions" src="/descriptions.vtt" srclang="en" />
  </video>
  ```

  Or provide a detailed transcript below the video with time codes and descriptions of visual events.

## External references

- wcag 1.2.5
- wcag 1.2.3
- section-508 503.4

Taxons: accessibility

HTML version: https://auditbuffet.com/patterns/ab-000103