---
title: "Closed Captions"
canonical: "https://blitzreels.com/glossary/closed-captions"
---

# Closed Captions

URL: https://blitzreels.com/glossary/closed-captions
Markdown URL: https://blitzreels.com/glossary/closed-captions.md
Category: Captions & Subtitles

## Definition

Closed captions are text overlays stored as a separate data track alongside the video, allowing viewers to toggle them on or off in their player settings.

## Extended Definition

Closed captions (CC) are encoded as metadata rather than burned into the video pixels. They are the accessibility standard for broadcast TV, YouTube, and streaming platforms. Formats include SRT, VTT, TTML, and EBU-STL. Closed captions can be auto-generated by platforms, uploaded by creators, or produced by professional transcription services. They support features like font customization, background opacity, and positioning adjustments by the viewer. For short-form social video, closed captions alone are insufficient because most platforms default to captions off. Creators typically use burned-in captions for social and closed captions for accessibility compliance.

## Related Terms

- srt-subtitles
- burned-in-captions
- auto-caption
- transcription

## Search Terms

- closed captions
- CC subtitles
- closed vs open captions
- SRT captions
- accessibility captions