1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio
Conformance level: AAA
Criterion released in WCAG version: 2.0
TL;DR: If speech is important, keep background audio low or provide a version without it so speech remains clear. This helps users who struggle with audio separation.
Official description of the success criterion
For prerecorded audio-only content that (1) contains primarily speech in the foreground, (2) is not an audio CAPTCHA or audio logo, and (3) is not vocalization intended to be primarily musical expression such as singing or rapping, at least one of the following is true:
- No Background: The audio does not contain background sounds.
- Turn Off: The background sounds can be turned off.
- 20 dB: The background sounds are at least 20 decibels lower than the foreground speech content, with the exception of occasional sounds that last for only one or two seconds.
What to do?
Ensure that audio content has no or low background noise.
Why is it important?
Improves audio clarity for users with hearing impairments.