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Animated GIFs

Whenever possible, avoid using GIFs. Animated GIFs are not very accessible to people who are visually impaired, and they can cause migraines and seizures when they start automatically, run continuously, or contain blinking and flashing.

Because Unity's sites don't support the WCAG 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A) guideline, GIFs don't currently meet accessibility requirements.

As an alternative to GIFs, consider using one of the following approaches:

  • Create a series of comparison images.
  • Break down actions into distinct steps.
  • Create and embed an MP4 file.

If none of the recommended approaches are feasible or they don’t properly illustrate a specific effect or property, you can use a GIF. If you decide to use an animated GIF, always describe what the GIF is demonstrating, as a matter of accessibility for users who can't load or view GIFs. To ensure that animated GIFs are as accessible as possible, follow these best practices:

  • Write a full description in the body of the text.
  • Provide alt text that describes the actions demonstrated in the GIF. For information on writing Alt text, refer to the section on Alt text.
  • Ensure that GIFs don't contain any blinking, flashing, or excessive scrolling or movement.