WEBSITE PLANNING

Prepare Captions and Transcripts for Website Videos

Prepare synchronized captions, transcripts and version records for website videos, then check the published player.

Deliver a media package

A website video handoff should include the final video, the approved spoken script or transcript, speaker identification where needed and the intended placement. Record whether important information appears only visually, such as a phone number displayed without being spoken. Keep the production version name on every associated file so captions do not accidentally describe an older edit.

Review timing and meaning

Play the video with sound muted while reading the captions. Check proper names, technical terms and numbers manually rather than accepting automatic transcription unchanged. Review line timing around cuts and pauses. A caption that contains the right words but appears before the relevant moment can still confuse the viewer. Then read the transcript separately to see whether it stands as a useful text version.

Check the published player

Verify that captions can be found and enabled in the actual embedded player, including its mobile presentation. Check keyboard controls and whether nearby text offers the transcript. W3C’s media guidance covers captions, descriptions and other accessibility considerations; requirements depend on the media. Keep a named owner for corrections so replacing the video does not leave its text alternative outdated.

Reference and next step

Reference: W3C accessible media guidance. For help reviewing a specific implementation, send the affected website address and describe the task customers are trying to finish.