WebVTT is a text format for time-aligned cues such as subtitles and captions. It can express cue timing and supported presentation information for compatible media systems. The format describes text-track data, while the player determines how supported cues are rendered and which controls the viewer can use to select or customise them.
A practical example
A website can associate a WebVTT resource with a video so captions appear at specified times during playback. If a cue is timed incorrectly, the text can be readable but out of step with the spoken content in that particular source.
A common misunderstanding
Do not assume every player implements every styling or layout feature of a text-track format. Compatibility with the file's basic cues may differ from support for its optional presentation details.
Related terms
Further reading
Stable technical definition. Editorial approach