What are Closed Captions?

Subtitles can be Closed or Open (Burned-in), what's the difference?

Sarah Stanfield avatar
Written by Sarah Stanfield
Updated over a week ago

Captions are an integral part of video production, it can help make videos more accessible to a wider audience and provide a better user experience. By adding Captions to your videos, you can ensure that everyone who watches your videos is able to access all the information you’ve provided, everyone can get the most out of our content.

Captions can be Closed or Open (also called "Encoded" or "Burned-in Captions). The first type exists as a separate file, while the second is encoded in a video.

The main differences between Closed Captions and Open Captions (or Burned-in captions) :

Closed Captions

Open (or Burned-in) Captions

  • Embedded in a separate file

  • Can be disabled

  • Used by carriers and streaming services

  • Encoded in a video

  • Cannot be disabled

  • Used most often on Social Media

Closed captioning is when text is added to a video in such a way that it can be turned on or off if desired. It usually requires the use of software to enable and disable. Closed captions can also include additional information, such as sound effects, speaker identification, and translations for foreign languages.

Closed captioning should be used when the video content is intended to be watched in a home or private setting, such as television or streaming services. It also offers viewers more control over their viewing experience, including the ability to turn captions on and off at any time.

By adding closed captions to a video, we are helping to create a more accessible and inclusive experience for all viewers even viewers with hearing impairments to access our content, and make sure that no one is left out.

BIGVU strives to provide users with the best possible experience by allowing them to add captions to their videos in order to deliver their video with greater impact to their audience. The user can choose to add subtitles in the spoken language or even in another language to allow better understanding for certain viewers.

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