Media includes captions or subtitles
What this criterion checks
This criterion maps to 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded). A detailed plain-language description is maintained in the WebLens criteria catalogue; the WCAG sub-test breakdown below describes exactly what the agent checks and what it does not.
How it's assessed
WebLens walks each user journey, captures a screenshot at every step, and an agent reasons over that evidence. See the how WebLens works for the full pipeline and the deterministic checks layered in for accessibility.
Sub-test coverage
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) is broken into 4 sub-tests. Coverage is honest about where the agent is reliable, where it only partially checks the requirement, and where a human reviewer is still needed.
1 partial3 not covered
- Captions are presentPartial
Our tool checks that HTML5 video elements include a track element with kind="captions". However, it only detects native HTML5 video elements — not video embedded via third-party players (YouTube, Vimeo) or custom JavaScript-based video players.
- Captions are equivalent to audio contentNot covered
Verifying that captions include all dialogue, speaker identification, and relevant non-speech audio requires human judgment. Not automatable.
- Captions are synchronizedNot covered
Verifying caption synchronization requires playing the video and comparing caption timing against the audio content. Not automatable with static code analysis.
- Media alternative exception checkNot covered
Determining whether media is a clearly labeled alternative for existing text content (and therefore exempt) requires human judgment. Not automatable.
How reliable it is
This criterion is still building up testing data, so confirm its findings as you review. See Accuracy & confidence for how the confidence tags are set.