Subtitles – Making Video Content Accessible to All Users
Subtitles display the spoken content of a video synchronously as text on screen. They allow users to read and understand video content without hearing the audio – whether due to hearing impairment, a noisy environment or a muted device. There are several types of subtitles that differ in function and target audience.
Publishing video content without subtitles excludes a significant portion of users: around 466 million people worldwide live with a disabling hearing loss. Situational users add to this – people in libraries, offices or on public transport who use videos without sound. For non-native speakers, subtitles also significantly improve comprehension of spoken content.
Since 28 June 2025, subtitles are also a legal requirement for many video contents: the European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance – and therefore captions for both pre-recorded and live video content.
Subtitles at a Glance
- Definition: Text display of spoken video content – synchronously shown, toggleable on or off
- Types: Open subtitles (burned-in), closed captions (toggleable), SDH (with sounds and music), live subtitles (real-time)
- Target groups: Deaf and hard-of-hearing users, non-native speakers, users in environments where audio cannot be used
- WCAG: Criterion 1.2.2 (Captions for pre-recorded video, Level AA), 1.2.4 (Live captions, Level AA)
- Formats: SRT, VTT, SCC – uploadable to platforms like YouTube, Vimeo or custom video players
Types of Subtitles – Differences and Use Cases
Not all subtitles are the same. The key types at a glance:
- Open captions: Permanently burned into the video – always visible, cannot be hidden. Advantage: no technical support from the video player required.
- Closed captions: Delivered as a separate file and uploaded to the platform – users can toggle them on and off. Standard on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
- SDH subtitles (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing): Include not only spoken text but also descriptions of sounds, music and speaker identification – specifically for deaf users.
- Live subtitles: Generated in real time during live broadcasts, webinars or video conferences – via speech recognition software or manually by respeakers.
- Foreign-language subtitles: Translations of spoken text into another language – primarily for international content, not designed for accessibility purposes.
Who Uses Subtitles? – Target Groups and Benefits
The value of subtitles extends far beyond the primary target group of deaf and hard-of-hearing users. Studies show that the majority of subtitle users have no hearing impairment:
- Deaf and hard-of-hearing users: Primary audience – for them, subtitles are the only way to fully access video content
- Situational users: People who need to use videos without sound in public, at the office or in shared spaces
- Non-native speakers: Subtitles in the original language significantly improve comprehension – especially with fast speech or strong accents
- Learners and focused readers: Reading and listening simultaneously demonstrably improves comprehension and information retention
Subtitles also improve SEO performance: search engines index subtitle text and can better understand the content of videos. Audio description complements subtitles for blind and visually impaired users – together they cover the most important audiovisual accessibility requirements.
Creating and Uploading Subtitles
There are several approaches to creating subtitles:
- Manual: Using software such as Subtitle Edit, Aegisub or the built-in editor in YouTube Studio – time-consuming but precise
- Automatic: Speech recognition software such as YouTube Auto-Captions, Microsoft Azure Speech or AI services generate subtitles – but always require manual proofreading
- Professional service: Specialist subtitling providers deliver accessible SDH subtitles with guaranteed quality – recommended for public-facing or legally relevant content
- Uploading: Finished SRT or VTT files can be uploaded directly to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo – most custom video players also support the WebVTT format
Accessible subtitles must meet quality standards: timestamps must be precise, line lengths limited (max. 42 characters per line), speaker changes clearly indicated and sounds and music described in SDH subtitles. Automatically generated subtitles without correction do not meet these standards and are not a standalone substitute for carefully created captions.
SiteCockpit Solution
easyMonitoring automatically detects missing subtitles
Missing subtitles on video content are a direct WCAG violation against criterion 1.2.2. easyMonitoring automatically scans your website for videos without captions and other accessibility issues – displaying each finding with its WCAG classification and severity in the dashboard. This tells you exactly which video content still needs subtitles to achieve EAA compliance.
Discover easyMonitoring →Frequently Asked Questions about Subtitles
Which file formats are used for subtitles?
The most common formats are SRT (SubRip Text) – the most universal and widely supported format – and WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks), developed specifically for use on the web and in HTML5 video players. Platforms like YouTube accept both formats. SCC and TTML are mainly used in broadcast environments.
Can subtitles be created automatically?
Yes – AI-powered speech recognition software such as YouTube Auto-Captions, Whisper (OpenAI) or Microsoft Azure Speech generates automatic subtitles. However, quality is error-prone, especially with technical terms, accents or multiple speakers. Automatically generated subtitles must always be manually reviewed and corrected before they can be considered accessible.
What are SDH subtitles and when are they needed?
SDH stands for Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. These subtitles include not only the spoken word but also descriptions of relevant sounds, music and speaker identification. SDH subtitles are necessary when video content needs to be fully comprehensible for deaf users – and correspond to the WCAG standard for captions.
How do I upload my own subtitles to YouTube?
In YouTube Studio under "Subtitles", an SRT or VTT file can be uploaded for each video. Alternatively, subtitles can be entered manually in the editor or automatically generated captions can be edited. After uploading, timestamps and line breaks should always be checked – YouTube occasionally adjusts timing during import.
Do all videos on your website have subtitles?
Missing subtitles are a WCAG violation and exclude millions of users. With easyMonitoring, you automatically audit your website and demonstrate EAA compliance with verifiable reports.
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