Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.2 [Audio Control]
1.4.2 If any audio [begin add]on a Web page[end add] plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, either a mechanism is available to pause or stop the audio, or a mechanism is available to control audio volume which can be set [begin add]to be a different level from the system volume level[end add] [begin delete]independently of the system volume[end delete]. [2131] [2185] (Level A)
[begin add][end add]Note: Since any content that does not meet this success criterion can interfere with a user's ability to use the whole page, all content on the Web page (whether used to meet other success criteria or not) must meet this success criterion. See conformance requirement 5.
Intent of this Success Criterion
Individuals who use screen reading software can find it hard to understand the speech output if there is other audio playing at the same time. This difficulty is exacerbated when the screen reader's speech output is software based (as most are today) and is controlled via the same volume control as the sound. Therefore, it is important that the user be able to turn off the background sound. Note: Having control of the volume includes being able to reduce its volume to zero.
Specific Benefits of Success Criterion 1.4.2:
Individuals who use screen reading technologies can hear the screen reader without other sounds playing. This is especially important for those who are hard of hearing and for those whose screen readers use the system volume (so they cannot turn sound down and screen reader up).
This success criterion also benefits people who have difficulty focusing on visual content (including text) when audio is playing.
Examples of Success Criterion 1.4.2
An audio file begins playing automatically when a page is opened. However, the audio can be stopped by the user by selecting a "silent" link at the top of the page.
A Flash splash page with sound that plays and then stops in less than 3 seconds.
A Flash splash page with sound that plays automatically includes a control at the top that allows users to turn the sound off.
Techniques and Failures for Success Criterion 1.4.2 [Audio Control]
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. The techniques listed only satisfy the success criterion if all of the WCAG 2.0 conformance requirements have been met.
Sufficient Techniques
G60: Playing a sound that turns off automatically within three seconds
Playing sounds only on user request (future link)
Providing a control near the top of the Web page that turns off sounds that play automatically (future link)
Providing a user interface control to pause or stop synchronized media (future link)
Common Failures Identified by the Working Group
The following are common mistakes that are considered failures of Success Criterion 1.4.2 by the WCAG Working Group.
Additional Techniques (Advisory) for 1.4.2
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 sitewide preference to turn off audio in addition to providing a control near the top of the Web page that turns off sounds that play automatically (future link)
Key Terms
- mechanism
process or technique for achieving a result
Note 1: The mechanism may be explicitly provided in the content, or may be relied on to be provided by either the platform or by user agents, including assistive technologies.
Note 2: The mechanism must meet all success criteria for the conformance level claimed.