Captions & on-screen text
Closed captions
What is Closed captions?
Closed captions are a text track synchronized to a video's audio that viewers can turn on or off through the player's settings. They include not only spoken dialogue but also non-speech audio information such as sound effects and speaker identifications, making them an accessibility feature designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
When you'd use it
- 1When publishing to a platform that supports a separate caption track viewers can toggle on or off.
- 2When the video must meet accessibility requirements for deaf or hard-of-hearing audiences.
- 3When the caption file includes sound effects or speaker labels that open captions would clutter the frame with.
- 4When you want viewers to have the choice to watch with or without on-screen text.
Example
A company posting a product explainer to its own website with a Wistia or Vimeo player benefits from a proper closed caption track. Viewers who need captions can turn them on, and the track can be swapped out for a translated version without re-encoding the video.
Use cases
- 1Uploading an SRT file alongside a long-form brand documentary so viewers can enable captions in the player.
- 2Adding a togglable caption track to a product explainer hosted on a corporate website.
- 3Providing speaker labels in a multi-person panel clip so viewers can follow who is talking.
FAQ
What is the difference between closed captions and subtitles?
Closed captions include all audible information, such as sound effects and speaker labels, and are designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. Subtitles carry only spoken dialogue and are primarily intended for language translation. The distinction is meaningful for accessibility compliance but often blurred in everyday use.
Make on-brand short-form video from the footage you already have.