Closed captions show spoken words and meaningful sounds for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Subtitles show dialogue, often in another language. Platforms use these labels differently, so check what each track includes.
For new narrated explainer videos with on-screen captions, an AI coding agent (a code-writing assistant) can use explainroo to create tall, portrait, and square videos with word-by-word captions.
What closed captions and subtitles include
The main difference is what the text represents. Captions describe the audio, while subtitles focus on dialogue.
Closed captions include sounds
Closed captions typically include spoken words, speaker labels when needed, and meaningful non-speech audio. For example, a caption might identify a speaker and note that music plays, or show “[door slams]” when the sound matters to the scene. These details help viewers follow the scene without hearing the audio.
Subtitles focus on dialogue
Subtitles usually show spoken dialogue. They often translate dialogue into a language the viewer understands, but they can also show dialogue in the original language. A subtitle track might translate a spoken line without describing background music or a door closing.
Closed vs. open captions and subtitles
The purpose of a track and the way it appears on screen are separate questions. Captions can help viewers who cannot hear the audio, and subtitles can help viewers understand speech in another language. Same-language text also helps deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers when it includes relevant sound cues.
“Closed” describes text that viewers can turn on or off. “Open” describes text permanently placed on the picture. Either captions or subtitles can be closed or open, so the display method alone does not tell you what the text contains.
When choosing a track, check both its language and its content. A same-language track labeled “subtitles” might include only dialogue, while a caption track might describe sound as well. Platform labels and available options vary.
When to use closed captions or subtitles
Choose captions when viewers need access to dialogue and meaningful audio cues. Choose translated subtitles when viewers need to understand dialogue in another language. If both needs matter, provide both tracks when possible, and make sure each includes the information its viewers need.
Make a narrated video with explainroo
explainroo makes new narrated explainer videos with word-by-word on-screen captions. Ask an AI coding agent that can run shell commands to make the video with explainroo. For example:
Make me a short explainer video about [your topic]. Use explainroo: clone the explainroo repository, read its AGENTS.md, and follow the steps.
The agent sets up explainroo, creates the video, checks it, and provides an MP4 file. It writes the narration in script.md and the scene instructions in scenes.js. Tall, portrait, and square videos get captions that light up word by word. The narration is English only.
explainroo is for making new explainer videos and product demos. It does not edit existing camera footage or create selectable subtitle tracks, so check that it fits the format and language needs of your video.
Key Takeaways
- Check what the text includes: Captions typically cover dialogue and meaningful sounds; subtitles typically focus on dialogue.
- Choose for the viewer’s need: Use sound-inclusive captions for access to audio and translated subtitles for language comprehension.
- Separate content from display: “Closed” means viewers can toggle the text; “open” means it is fixed on the picture.
- Use explainroo for new narrated videos: It creates explainer videos with word-by-word captions in tall, portrait, and square formats.
Conclusion
Captions usually cover more audio; subtitles usually show dialogue, often in translation. Since platforms use labels differently, check the text and language before choosing a track.
For a narrated explainer video with word-by-word on-screen captions, explainroo creates the video from instructions given to an AI coding agent.
