2.A: Audio Control (WCAG 1.4.2)
Ensure users can control audio that plays automatically.
- Requirement: If audio plays automatically for > 3 seconds, a mechanism to pause, stop, or control the volume must be provided.
- Accessibility Constraint: To meet non-interference requirements, this control mechanism must be encountered within the first three elements of the page.
- Functionality: The volume control must be independent of the system volume to ensure it does not mute essential assistive technology (e.g., screen reader speech).
- Implementation: Mechanisms can include on-page controls (buttons, links), clear text instructions (e.g., hotkey documentation), or reliance on browser-level mute/disable features (documented for compatibility).
Test Requirement
The purpose of this test is to validate that if audio content plays automatically for more than three seconds, there is a mechanism within the first three elements encountered for the user to pause, stop, or change the volume of the audio.
The mechanism provided must also pass all applicable Test Conditions within this test process. This ensures users who rely on screen readers do not experience an unexpected interruption of their speech output. It also ensures users are not distracted by the audio when focusing on page content. The results from this test are used to determine if WCAG Success Criteria (SC) 1.4.2 Audio Control is met.
NOTE: The requirement for the mechanism to be within three elements is not specified in WCAG. However, it is specified in the Trusted Tester Process in order to meet the non-interference requirement and for a clear way to measure how easy the mechanism is to find.
Method
- Manual inspection of the page.
Tool
- All applicable ANDI modules for the mechanism used to control the audio content.
| Test ID | Test Name | Test Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 2.A | 1.4.2-audio-control | The user can pause, stop, or control the volume of audio content that plays automatically. |
Identifying Content
Identify audio content that automatically plays, without user activation, for more than three seconds. Content of this type includes alerts, sounds, and music.
Does Not Apply
This Test Condition DOES NOT APPLY (DNA) if there is no audio content that plays automatically for more than three seconds.
How to Test 2.A Audio Control
From the TT Process:
- Determine if there is a mechanism within the first three elements encountered for the user to pause or stop the audio or to control the volume of only the auto-playing audio.
Users must be able to quickly find and turn off audio content that plays automatically. The mechanism to control audio volume must be independent from the overall volume level for the operating system. If the mechanism is not independent, it could also affect the volume of speech output of a screen reader.
The mechanism may either provide the required audio controls or explain how to do so, for example, informing the user of a hotkey combination. This could be implemented using elements such as:
- Text instructions
- An image
- A user control, such as a button or checkbox
- A link
- A dialog box.
Use visual inspection and keyboard navigation to determine if there is a mechanism within the first three elements of the web page.
Some examples of a mechanism include:
- Text at the top of the web page that explains how to use a hotkey combination to activate the mechanism.
- A button to pause, stop, or control volume that is the second focusable item on the page.
- A link to the audio player that is the first focusable element on the web page. The pause button is the second button encountered in the player.
- A platform or browser’s accessibility features. Some browsers provide the ability to disable auto-playing media and/or mute specific tabs or windows.
- The Trusted Tester process requires the mechanism to be encountered within the first three focusable elements on the page for clear measurability. This requirement is not specified in WCAG. To meet the non-interference requirement, the mechanism can be a focusable element or text instructions at the top of the page prior to repetitive content.
From the TT Process:
a. The browser should already have been configured to allow auto-play. (See the Trusted Tester Tool Installation and Browser Configuration Guide for instructions.)
Verify that you have allowed auto-play within your browser prior to identifying any auto-play components.
From the TT Process:
2.Activate the mechanism.
Verify that the mechanism effectively pauses, stops, and/or controls the volume.
A browser’s ability to disable auto-playing media or mute a specific tab are acceptable mechanisms to stop or control the volume of auto-playing audio content. However, not all browsers have this capability. If relying on browser functionality to stop or control the volume of auto-playing audio content, you should document test results for all browsers that may be used to access the content in the production environment.
From the TT Process:
- Following this test process, test the mechanism for all applicable Test Conditions.
If the mechanism fails an applicable Test Condition, the user may not be able to access it. It is recommended that you document test results for all browsers that may be used to access the content in the production environment.
Evaluating Content
From the TT Process:
If ALL the following are TRUE, then the content PASSES:
- There is a mechanism that can pause or stop the audio or control the volume of only the auto-playing audio, AND
- The mechanism is within the first three elements encountered by the user, AND
- The mechanism passes all applicable Test Conditions in this test process.