---
title: Ensure <audio> elements have captions | Accessibility Rule
description: "<audio> elements must have a captions track. Why the audio-caption rule
  fails (Deprecated, critical impact), how to fix it and how to catch it with TestingBot."
source_url:
  html: https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/audio-caption
  md: https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/audio-caption.md
---

# Ensure \<audio\> elements have captions

Rule ID: audio-caption User Impact: critical Guidelines: Deprecated

The `<audio>` element must include a `<track>` element with `kind="captions"` to provide synchronized text alternatives for deaf or hard-of-hearing users.

## What is being tested?

This rule checks that every `<audio>` element includes at least one `<track>` element with the `kind="captions"` attribute. Captions must include dialogue, speaker identification, sound effects, and musical cues.

## Why it matters

Without captions, deaf or hard-of-hearing users miss critical audio content, including dialogue, speaker identification, and important sounds. Captions make audio content accessible and allow all users to fully understand the material.

## How to fix the problem

- Add a `<track>` element inside `<audio>` with `kind="captions"`.
- Ensure the captions file includes all meaningful audio information (dialogue, sound effects, speaker IDs).
- Use correct language codes with `srclang` and a clear `label`.

## Example code

```
<audio>
  <source src="mySpeech.mp3" type="audio/mp3">
  <track src="captions_en.vtt" kind="captions" srclang="en" label="English captions">
  <track src="captions_es.vtt" kind="captions" srclang="es" label="Spanish captions">
</audio>
```

## Important notes

- Captions are not the same as subtitles—captions include non-speech information like music and sound effects, while subtitles are usually just translations. 
- Use `kind="captions"` (not `kind="subtitles"`) to support deaf access. 

## Best practices

- Provide captions in all supported languages where possible.
- Ensure captions are accurate, synchronized, and cover all meaningful sounds.
- Test captions on multiple devices and browsers to confirm they display properly.

## Other Rules

Interested in other web accessibility rules? Please see these other rules:

- [duplicate-id-active](https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/duplicate-id-active)
- [duplicate-id](https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/duplicate-id)