What's the difference between captions and subtitles?

Captions assume the viewer cannot hear and include sound effects, music cues, and speaker labels. Subtitles assume the viewer can hear and only translate spoken language into text.

Are captions required by law?

In many jurisdictions, broadcast television and major online video platforms are required to provide captions under accessibility laws (e.g. the ADA and Section 508 in the U.S., the EAA in the EU). Social media platforms encourage but do not require them.

What is the standard caption file format?

The two most common caption file formats are SRT (SubRip) and VTT (WebVTT). SRT is simpler and more widely supported; VTT supports styling and positioning.

Glossary

What Are Captions? Definition, Types, and Examples

Captions are timed text displayed on video that shows spoken dialogue, sound effects, and speaker identification, designed for viewers who cannot hear the audio.

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Definition

Captions are timed text displayed on a video that transcribes spoken dialogue and identifies key sounds, designed primarily for viewers who cannot hear the audio.

Also known as: video captions, burned-in text

Full Explanation

Captions are a form of synchronized timed text shown on video. Unlike subtitles, which assume the viewer can hear and only translates language, captions are written for audiences who cannot hear the audio. They include spoken dialogue, speaker identification (e.g. 'JOHN:' or '[Narrator]'), and non-verbal audio cues such as '[door slams]', '[laughter]', or '[music playing]'. Captions exist in two technical forms: closed captions, which the viewer can toggle on or off, and open captions, which are permanently burned into the video. On social platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, the term 'captions' is also used to describe stylized animated word-level text designed to boost engagement and retention. These stylistic captions often display 1-3 words at a time and animate in sync with speech.

Examples

-A movie playing in a noisy gym with text overlays showing what characters say.
-An Instagram Reel where each word appears in time with the creator's voice (word-level captions).
-A YouTube documentary with '[ominous music]' shown when no one is speaking.
-A news broadcast with a black bar at the bottom transcribing the anchor's words in real time.

Why Captions Matter

Beyond accessibility, captions significantly improve video performance: studies show that 80% of mobile social video is watched with sound off, and captioned videos see 12% longer watch times on average. They also improve SEO, search engines can index caption text, surfacing videos for more queries.

What Are Captions? Definition, Types, and Examples

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