Closed Captions (CC)

Closed captions (CC) are a time-synchronized text track attached to a video file or streaming format that viewers can toggle on or off. Unlike burned-in (open) captions that are permanently visible, closed captions exist as a separate layer — typically in a file format like SRT, VTT, or SCC — that the video player reads and renders over the video on demand. The "closed" designation refers to this toggleability: the viewer has the option to "open" or "close" the caption display.

Closed captions were developed for accessibility — specifically for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. As a result, they include not just transcribed dialogue but also audio descriptions: [upbeat music playing], [door slams], [crowd applauds]. This distinction from subtitles is meaningful: subtitles assume the viewer can hear the audio but doesn't understand the language. Closed captions assume the viewer cannot hear the audio and needs all relevant sonic context described in text. In practice, many people use "subtitles" and "closed captions" interchangeably, but accessible content should use full CC with audio descriptions.

The practical case for closed captions in B2B video is strong on multiple fronts. They serve viewers who watch on mute (a large share of social media video audience), viewers who are hearing-impaired, viewers in noise-sensitive environments, and viewers whose primary language isn't English. They also benefit SEO: caption text is indexable by search engines, giving video content a text-readable layer that improves discoverability. Platforms like YouTube generate automatic captions (though quality varies), while professional production teams either create captions manually or use AI transcription tools like Descript, Rev, or Otter.ai to produce SRT files that can be uploaded to any platform.