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Closed captioning (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia, n.d.
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- Encyclopedia article explaining the difference between closed captions, which a viewer can switch off, and open or burned-in captions, which are part of the picture, and how US and Canadian usage separates subtitles from captions.
- How much weight it carries
- Encyclopedia article and secondary source. Its definitions match the HTML standard's subtitles and captions definitions, so they are used here for terms, not as a legal definition.
Facts taken from this source
- Closed captions are not visible until the viewer activates them, usually with the remote control or a menu option.
“the captions are not visible until activated by the viewer” (Terminology)
- Open, burned-in or hard-coded captions are visible to all viewers because they are embedded in the video.
“the captions are visible to all viewers as they are embedded in the video” (Terminology)
- In US and Canadian usage, subtitles assume the viewer can hear the audio but cannot understand the language or accent.
“Subtitles assume the viewer can hear but cannot understand the language or accent” (Terminology)