Writing Extended Audio Descriptions for Video
Writing Extended Audio Descriptions for Video records a distinct W3C-supported accessibility writing task while keeping implementation mechanics outside the writing guidance.
Use extended audio description when necessary visual information cannot fit into the existing pauses; write only the added description needed to convey the video’s meaning.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Use extended description only when standard description cannot fit without losing needed meaning; do not lengthen content merely to narrate incidental visual detail.
Further guidance
Content
Write the additional description needed to convey the sense of the video when normal pauses do not provide enough time, preserving the essential sequence and meaning of the visual content.
Purpose
Extended description gives enough time for necessary visual information that cannot fit into the original dialogue gaps.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Description of Visual Information (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) · W3C WAI guidance for writing descriptions of visual information needed to understand video.